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973.74
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1764832

REYNOLDS HISTORICIC,
GENEALOGY COLLECTtOlit

3 1833 00822 4526

HISTORY

OF THE

^^0 ; —

TENTH EEGIMEKT OF
CAVALRY

NEW YOBK STATE VOLUNTEERS

MJ ^■

August, 1861, to August, 1865

K D. PRESTON

WITH AN INTRODUCTION
By Gen. D. McM. GREGG

PUBLISHED BY THE TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY ASSOCIATION

NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

1893

1764832

'!«'5ia'^2iSR3ar55"'

r "^^ Preston, Noble D.

k 8349

I c_^ " History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York

i • state voluiiteers, Au<;'ust, 18G1, to Au^st, 1865, by N. D.

Prestou, with an introduction by Gen. D. McM. Greirg;

; pub. by the Tenth New York cavalry association. New

York, D. Appleton and company, 1892.

' ;■ xix, 710 p. front., illus., plates, ports., fold. maps. 245*"..

' * 1. U. S.— Hist. — Civil war — Regimental histories — N. Y. cav. — lOth.

:• 2. New York cavalry-. lOtli regt.. 1861-1865.

. ■■ 2-1S24S ...
. Library of Congress -^ E523.6.10thP . .

Copy

fi2fi25 Copyright 1891:47071 . ta21elj

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012

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GENERAL P, H. SHE^RIDAN.

.zi.-i'^

Feinted in America.

PKEFACE

It was with many misgivings that I yielded to the demands of
my comrades, and consented to undertake the preparation of a his-
tory of the Tenth New York Cavalry. Fully realizing my unfitness
for the work, I felt, nevertheless, the desire so universally entertained
by the members, that the record of the Regiment's services should be
put in an enduring form ; and, actuated by a sense of duty, I entered
upon the task.

The volume is presented as the result of nearly three years' labor.
The difficulties attending the collection of material and data have
been greater than I had anticipated, but in the necessary corre-
spondence I have derived much pleasure in the revival of auld lang
syne with comrades " who drank from the same canteen."

It has been my endeavor to record the facts fairly and impartially.
Such sins of omission and commission as may be found in the chroni-
cle are not due to any predisposed views or opinions on the writer's
part, but rather to the ditliculty of getting exact information on
many points, and of arranging from a confusion of details a con-
nected narrative with proper discrimination.

It is very natural that every soldier should regard his regiment as
the best. It was this pride that gave to an army the esprit de corps
which rendered it efficient at all times. It is pleasant to record the
fact that the men who were banded together as the Tenth Xew York
Cavalry entertained this feeling to an unusual degree. A perusal of
the pages of this volume will, I believe, convince any one that their
pride was fully justified. No apologies or explanations are necessary
for any of the actions of the Regiment. Its members acquitted them-

iv HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

selves as men on all occasions. "When the time of tlieir terms of
service had about expired, tlioy enrolled tlicinselves for three years
more, determined to continue tlic struggle to the end.

I desire to acknowledge my obligations to the comrades who have
so generously responded with whatever th63y possessed that would aid
me in the making up of the volume, as A\'ell as to those who have
contributed directly to its pages by personal reminiscences, etc.

To the cliairman of the Publication Committee, Henry E. Hayes,
I am under many obligations. He has been indefatigable in his
efforts in every way, and has lightened my labors and cheered me in
the work. This Committee, composed of U. E. Hayes, D. Getman, Jr.,
and E. M. Tuton, has been active and eilicient at all times, and ren-
dered every possible assistance to facilitate the work. To their broad
views the comrades are indebted for the handsome and durable vol-
ume herewith presented. Tliey were unanimous in the opinion that
in the printing and binding of the book the best would be hone too
good. That it comes from the press of the well-known publishing
house of D. Appleton & Co. is sufficient pvoot of their wisdom, and
insures a work that in its mechanism will be another fitting monu-
ment to the memory of the men whose heroic services it records.

I take this opportunity of tendering thanks to Colonel Fred
Phisterer, Chief of the Bureau of Records of the War of the Rebel-
lion, of the Adjutant-Geiicrars Office of the State of Xew York,
Major George B. Davis, of th'3 War Record's Office at Washington,
D. C, Mark Brownell and C. AY. Wiles, Corresponding and Recording
Secretaries, respectively, of tlie " Tenth Now York Cavalry Associa-
tion," John L. Kendlehart, of Philadelpiiia, formerly of Gettysburg,
Hon. A. T. Bliss, ATalter Ivcmpster, and j\I. ^lahany, formerly of the
Tenth Kew York Cavalry, and to Mr. Edgar Vanderbilt, brother of
Captain George Vanderbili, for many favors extended me in the prepa-
ration of the volume; al-^o to General Ordway, of Washington, D. C,
and to Colonels George Meade and J. Edward Carpenter, of Pliiladel-
phia, for photograplis of prominent cavalry generals loaned me.

To those comrades who liave contributed their prison experiences
I also desire to acknowledge my oblifrations. These narratives will

PREFACE. V

be found of thrilling interest, particularly to those who shared in
the sufferings, the hopes, and the despair of the days and scenes of
which they write.

The map showing the position of troops in the cavalry engage-
ment on the right flank at Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 18G3, I made
from the maps prepared by authority of tlie Secretary of War, per-
mission having been obtained from the Engineer-in- Chief of the
Army to use them. The map will, I think, be found interesting
and reliable. * The other maps, which I also prepared especially for
this work, will aid the reader in following the movements of the
regiment, and assist in a comprehension of the magnitude of the
theatre of operations of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac.

The book will be found to possess some features not often met
with in a volume of its kind. Artistic reproductions of photographic
portraits of all the prominent cavalry generals who served in the
Army of the Potomac — a galaxy of leaders the peers of whom it would
be difficult to find in modern times, faces that awaken memories of
wise administration and gallant leadership ; endeared to every man
in their respective commands — adorn its pages.

The " charger " seen plunging through the book, indicates that it
is horse from cover to cover.

Comrades, the history is in your hands. In your criticisms, I trust
that the broad charity which has always been so prominent a char-
acteristic of the intelligent American soldier will be extended, keep-
ing in mind the fact that no two actors in the great drama saw things
from the same standpoint nor with the same eyes. In the individual
records no doubt many errors will be found ; but I have been com-
pelled to follow the " official " statements where nothing different,
from li\-ing witnesses or papers in my possession, proved the contrary.

It has been my earnest endeavor to place in the hands of the com-
rades a truthful and impartial record of the gallant Regiment and its
members. If the work proves acceptable to them, I shall feel abun-
dantly rewarded for my labor.

N. D. Preston.

Philadelphia, December 1, 1891.

Iiq-TEODUCTIOl!^,

The following pages will be read by three classes with both
interest and instruction. The first of these, the more general, com-
posed of those who willingly read all that is published concerning
the Great AYar of the Kebellion, after having followed the author
through the story of the services of the Tenth New York Cavalry,
will have a better knowledge of the magnitude of a war w hich con-
tinued for nearly four years, whose theatre extended from the Po-
tomac to the Rio Grande, and in which the one Eegiment under
consideration participated in a hundred battles and skirmislies, and
met such enormous losses in killed and wounded; and in deaths from
disease in hospitals and rebel prisons.

The second class of readers, the immediate friends and relatives
of the good and true men wdiose names were borne on Die rolls of
the Tenth Xew York, will in the narrative find peculiar interest.
What their loved ones suffered from wounds, disease, the fatigue
and hardships of campaigns, amid the ice and snow of winter and
the heat and dust of summer, will be better understood after they
shall have followed the author to the end.

The veterans of the Regiment will read ^vith great pride and satis-
faction its story, the history which they made with the keen edges
of their sabers and the unerring bullets of their carbines. Their
memories freshened, they will be better jible to figlit tiieir battles
o*er, and to recall associations with the dear comrades who have
preceded them to the reassembling of the grand old Army of the
Potomac on the other shore.

Grand Tenth Kew York Cavalrv ! The writer of this brief intro-

Viii''' HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

duction had the honor of commanding the division in which it served.
In two and a half years of servicd he never knew it to fail in its duty.
Led by such gallant soldiers as Irvine and Avery, to it belongs a full
share of the glory won by its division and its arm of service.

The author of the history is to be complimented on the successful
completion of his work. It has involved much labor in the necessary
examination of official records and in extensive correspondence. The
result of his patient labor will prove a valuable contribution to the
true history of the War of the Kebellion.

D. McM. Gkegg,
Late Brigadier and Brevet Major- Oeneral of Volunteers^

Readdto, Pa., September 3, 1S91.

^^''

V x^

^'m

N. D. PRESTON,
Historian.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

OKGANIZATION AT ELMIRA.— IN WINTER QUARTERS AT GETTYSBURG.

PAGE

Authority granted John C. Lcmmon to recruit the Eei^imcnt. — Difficulty in raising
the necessary men. — The Porter Guards. — Christened before birth. — Eecruiting
commenced. — The first company and first men enlisted. — Where the men came
from.— Arrival of Company A in Elmira rendezvous. — Barracks No. 2.— Camp
scenes and incidents. — Arrivals in camp of the various companies. — Captain Avery
in command of the barracks. — Koster of the Eegiment. — Poster of Field, Staff,
Non-commissioned Staff and Band. — Election of field officers. — Clothing received.
— Major Bernstein, drill-muster. — Material of which the Eegiment was composed.
— Company A's cold-water bath. — The Morgan Cavalry disbanded. — Company
C's skirmishing experience. — Grand review. — Numerical designation and muster
into ."service of the Eegiment. — Ordered to Gettysburg. — Gettysburg ? ? ? — A happy
crowd. — Arrival there Christmas night, 1861. — Eeception in Gettysburg. — First
dress parade. — Locating a camp. — Assignment of the companies to temporary
quarters. — Address of Colonel Lemmon to the citizens. — General Order No. 20.
— Tents erected. — Camp abandoned. — Death of John W. Congdon. — The first
death in the Eegiment, and first Union soldier interred in the Gettysburg ceme-
tery.— ^The Secretary of War asked to have barracks erected for the Eegiment.
— First Ecgimental review. — Sham prize-fight. — Bad effect of the factional differ-
ences among officers. — Barracks ordered built. — Location. — First troops m bar-
racks.— Presentation of .>*ilk banner by Miss Elizabeth Porter. — Care of the sick.
— Celebrating Union victories and anniversaries. — A home guard cavalry com-
pany.—Social mentions.— Ordered to Perry ville, Md. — Farewell to Gettysburg.
—Kind mention by the newspapers.— Card from Surgeon Pease.— How the Tenth
came to be quartered in Gettysburg ....... 1

CHAPTER IL

PERRYVILLE, HAVRE DE GRACE, BALTDIORE, WASHINGTON.

The journey to Perry^-ille. — Characteristics of the place. — Growing discontent among
the men. — The Rcunment ordered to Havre de Grace. — Companies A, C, F, and G,
under Major Avery, assigned to guarding railroad.— The ferry-boat Maryland. —
The Secretary of War petitioned to disband the Eegiment or send it into active
service. — Non-commissioned officers reduced for complicity. — Muskets stored. —
Company A makes a capture of schooner and embryo rebel soldiers. — Corporal
John P. White's and Lieutenant Weed's accounts. — Issue of pistols and carbines
to the Eegiment.— Eumors of a transfer to Virginia.— Companies B, D, E, F, H,

X HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

PAGK

and regimental head-quarters transferred to Eirtterson Park, Baltimore.— Eeviewed
by General Wool. — Importance of the bridges of the P. W. & B. R. R. — Historic
Patterson Park. — Attractions about the city. — Issue of horses. — Off for Washing-
ton, D. C, mounted. — Arrival at the National Capital. — Companies A, C, and G
arrive next day. — Reunited and encamped near Bladensburi,' Toll-gate. — Hifttori-
cal grounds. — Breaking horses and bones. — Drills and dross parades. — President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward interested spectators. — Orders for recruiting a
third battalion. — The detail. — It proceeds to New York State— Elmira the ren-
dezvous.— Enlistment and inuster-in of Companies I, K, L, and M. — The roster of
each. — Off for Washington of the three first companies, — Issue of horses. — Join-
ing the Regiment at Brooks's Station . . . . . . .25

CHAPTER HI.

FIRST ^^RGIXIA CAMPAIGN.— FROM SECOND BULL RUN TO
FREDERICKSBURG.

Companies A, B, D, and E, undei Major Avery, ordered to Falls Church.- Crossing
the long bridge in a severe storm. — The Regiment receives its full complement of
horses. — Companies C and F, under Major Kemper, ordered to Fort Whipple. —
Scouting. — Capture of Captain H. S. Pratt and thirty men near Centreville. —
Captain Pratt's account. — General Cox's report. — Colonel Thomas T. Muniord's
(Confederate) report.— The first blood fight of the Regiment, Leesburg. — A gal-
lant charge.— Account of the engagement by Corporal E. W. Stark, Company A,
and reports of Colonel Davies. — Composition of Bayard's Brigade. — Foraging
incident. — A forward movement. — Skirmishing. — '' Joe Bailey." — A letter from
Major Avery's benefactress. — The fight at the Gold Mines. — Company H loses
several men. — Reports of General Bayard and Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine. —
Captain Peck in arrest. — Picket duty. — Foraging facts and fancies. — Bayard's
Brigade on a reconnoissance. — A cold time and great sufferinof. — General Bayard
on guard.— On picket again. — An attack on the relief. — Account of Sergeant Mor-
timer Spring, of Company D.— Comp.anies L and K on detached service. — Captain
Vanderbilt's graphic account of escort duty with a new company. — Battle of
Fredericksburg.— Death of General Bayard.— General D. McM. Gregu succcceds
Mm in command. — Return of the prisoners paroled at Centreville. — Kilpatrick
in command of the brigade.— The march to Belle Plain.— In camp, preparatory to
going into winter quarters . . . . . . . .40

CHAPTER IV.

SPRING CAMPAIGN, 1863.— FROM CAMP BAYARD TO BATTLE OF BRANDY

STATION.

In winter quarters at Camp Bayard.— Camp scenes and incident?.— Return of Com-
panies L and K from detached service. — Muster-in of part of Company M at
Elmira, and arrival at Camp Bayard.— Colonel Lemmon comes to camp, and re-
mains a few days. — Part of the Redmcut on picket. — Entire Rciriment on outpost
duty at Lamb Creek Church.— Terrible storms.— Burnside's mud march.— A
tedious, disagreeable march to Mathias Point.— On piiket again. — Severe snow-
storm.— Company M joins tlie Regiment. — The rcirimental organization complete.'
— Foraging foibles and picket paraerraphs. — Surgeon ClarVce tells some amusing
anecdotes.— Captain Vanderbilt and the pet y>i<r.— R. G, Kin^f, of Company A,
relates his experience. — Tiie oscillations between Camp I:>ayard and King George
County.— Grand review of the Army of the Potomac by IVcsidont Lincoln and

CONTENTS. Xi

PAGE

General Hooker. — The cavalry makes an impression— ^m the mud. — Punisljment
of two deserters. — Or<,Tinizatioa of thc» Cavalry Corps. — Changes in the Tenth. —
Koster ot oiliccrs. — Good-bye to Camp Bayard. — Opening of the spring campaign.
—Marching and countermarching in tlie vicinity of Warrcnton and Bealton. —
The Stoneman raid.— The delay in starting. — Dispatches of General Hooker
and President Lincoln. — Charge of the Regiment througti Louise Court-House.
— Sergeant Pettis, of Company K, attempts horse-trading under difficulties. —
Detail to destroy bridge. — A stampede. — George Hines, of Company A, and his
chicken.— Sleepy soldiers snoring. — Arrival and crossing at Kelly's Ford. — Cap-
tain Getman's account of the raid. — Colonel Kilpatrick's march to Gloucester
Point. — Surgeon Clarke remembers the raid. — Some reflections. — Following the
cavalry wagon train to Chancellorsville. — The rebels shell the camp. — Ludicrous
scene. — Joining the corps at Bealton. — To Potomac Creek bridge. — Back to
. Bealton.— On picket.— Capturing a guci;illa. — Another case. — A lover's flight
and plight. — On picket at Warrenton Junction . . . . . 58

CHAPTER V.

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.— FROM BRANDY STATION TO GETTYSBURG.

Return of Colonel Kilpatrick from Gloucester Point. — Keen blades for a promised
contest.— Battle of Brandy Station.— The first great cavalry combat of the war.
— Strength of General Pleason ton's force,— Accounts and incidents of the battle
by Lieutenant B. B. Porter, of Company L., Elias D. Evans and Joseph F.
Ashtenaw, of Company D.— Operations of Company L. — Losses in the Regiment.
— Confederate report of capture of the standard of the Tenth New York. — Rela-
tive strength of the forces engaged. — Effect of the encounter on the Union
cavalry. — Reorganization ot the Cavalry Corps. — General D. M. M. Gregg in
command of the Second Division.— The Tenth in the Third Brigade, Colonel J.
Irvin Gregg commonding.— The march northward. — Action at Aldie.— Middle-
burg engaercmcnt. — Accounts by Major Kemper, Sergeant Edson, of Company D,
Corporal David L. Wallace, of Company A, Sergeant John B. Butfura, of Company
B.— Prisoners and wounded sent to Aldie.— Incident by W. W. Williams, of (com-
pany D. — En£ragenient at Upperville. — The Confederate cavalry driven to Ash-
by's Gap. — Falling back. — The Regiment under a brisk artillery fire. — Ordered
to service with the Twelfth Corps. — Arrival at Leesburg. — Marching northward
with the infantry.— Arrival in Frederick, Md. — General Meade supersedes Gen-
eral Hooker in command of the Army of the Potomac. — The Regiment back in
the Third Brijiado. — The march continued to Newmarket, New "Windsor, West-
minster.— Cro.-^sing the Pennsylvania line. — Halt at Hanover Junction. — Arrival
at Hanover.— A royal reception.- Scene of Kilpatrick's fight.— Arrival on the
right flank at Gettysburg. — Adventure and capture of Surgeon Lyman W. Bliss.
— Impatience of the men to visit friends in the village. — Sounds of the raging con-
flicti — John iladole, Company L, the first to enter Gettysburg . . .82

CHAPTER VL

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN CONTINUED.— ON THE RIGHT FLANK AT
GETTYSBURG.— TO HARPER'S FERRY.

On tlic right flank at Gettysburg. — Home again, almost. — Speculation and expecta-
tion.— Ordered forward. — The first advance to Brinkerhoof's Ridge. — First troops
engaged on the right flank. — Rank's Battery.— Second action on Brinkerhoof's
Ridge. — Colonel Brooke-Rawle's account. — Accounts by Sergeant B. W. Bonnell,

xii HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

PAGE

of Company 11, Captain Lownsbury and Corporal Dow, of Company K, Sergeant
Edson, of Company D, Sergeant D. W. Pletohcr, of Company F, Lieutenant
Matthews, of Company M, and Lieutenant Porter, of Company L. — Incidents by
Sergeant John A. Freer and W. E. Phelps, of Company M, and Ilosjntal Steward
"Walter Kempster. — Scene of the battle at night. — Reports of Generals Johnson and
"Walker (Confederate ).-^T he Tenth New York Cavalry Monument. — Skirmishing
at night on the right of the Tweiftli Corps. — Incident. — Engagement of July 3d.
— General Gregg apprised of the approach of the Confederate cavalry. — Accounts
by Major McClellau and the Corate de Paris. — Mcintosh opens the fight. — Custer
recalled. — Irvin Gregg's Brigade in reserve. — A brilliant encounter. — Gregg vic-
torious.— Strength of the opposing forces. — Losses. — Extract from General Gregg's
address at the dedication of the Cavalry shaft. — On picket at night. — Foraging. —
A night-scene in the rear of the great battle-field. — Refugees returning to town.
— Familiar forms and faces. — In Gettysburg again. —Irvin Gregg's Brigade the
first troops to enter the village. — The Porter Guards welcomed. — Interesting
reminiscences. — Arrival of Early's Confederate Division en route for York, Pa.
— His demand for food and clothing. — A prompt refusal fi-om ilr. D. Kendel-
hart, on behalf of the village. — Old John Burns the bearer of the documents. —
Incident of the "Hero of Gettysburg." — Letter from C. J. Tyson. — The spirit
of the Confederates broken. — Lee falls back during the night of July 3d.— Mr.
Kendelhart the bearer of the news to General Meade. — Gregg's Division in
pursuit on the Chambersburg Road. — Scenes of death and devastation on the
route. — Great numbers of prisoners taken. — Sufferings from hunger.— Foraging.
— ^Fodder and food freely furnished.— Arrival in Chambersburg.— To Quincy,
"Waynesboro, Middletown, Boonesboro. — Rest and rain. — To Harper's Ferry. —
Encamp on Bolivar Heights.— First Union troops to cross the Potomac . . 106

CHAPTER VIL

FALL CAMPAIGN, 1863.-FROM HARPER'S FERRT TO WINTER QUARTERS
AT TURKEY RUN, NEAR WARRENTON.

Harper's Ferry.— Incidents and scenes.— Surgeon Clarke's close call,— Arrival at Shep-
berdstown.— Issue of bacon.— " Dinner fo' de hands."— On picket.- Outposts
attacked.— Fii-st Maine's opportune arrival.—Accnunt of Company IPs operations
by Corporal Harrison.— A severe struggle.— General Gregg withdraws to Harper's
Ferry during the night.— Experience of Sergeant Peck, of Company M.— Con-
federates also decamp in the night.— Losses in the Reu'inient.— General Gregg's
report.— Colonel Grcu'tr's report.- The march soiuhward Uikon up.— To Lovetts-
ville, Goose Creek, Bull Run, Broa^l Run, Catlctt's Station, Warronton Junction.
—On picket duty.— To Aml^sville.— Skirmish at Little Washinirton, Au!2:ust 3d.—
Again on the 4th.— Georire Ilines. of Company A, swaps horses with liis antagonist
in the fight.— Account by Sur^'eon Clarke.— To Sul{.hur Springs.— Brigade desig-
nation chanired to the Second.— Companies .M and K on detached service with
the Second Corp?.— On picket near Jefferson and Oak Shade.— To Culpeper,
Brandy St-ation, and Fay etteville.— Back to Culpcp>er.— The Army fallinir back.
—To Sulphur Sprinirs.— Adventure of the First .Maine Cavalry.— Battle of Sulphur
Springs.— An unequal contest.— Ni^'ht fighting.— Cut off.— A diseouraL'ing out-
look.—Opportune arrival of Colonel Taylor's brigade.— Arrival nt Fayctteville.

Experiences of Sergeant W, N. Harrison, of Company H, and PHias D. P^vans, of
Company D.— General Gre_':,''s report.— Experience of A. L. Eldridu'e, of Company
I^-— To Auburn.— Captain Vanderbilt, with his squadron, on picket.— An attack
and heroic stand.— CapUiu Vanderbik's aecount.—Lieutonant Johnson's gallant

CONTENTS. • xiii

PAGB

charge. — He is captured. — Graphic account by Lieutenant IT. E. TIayea. — A des-
perate but short struggle. — Stuart in a tight place. — Skirmish at Bristoe. — Picket-
ing near Fairfax Court-Housc. — Following the retreating Confederate army. —
On picket at Fayetteviile and Morrisville. — Lieutenant AL. E. Woodruff and a
small force attacked.— Woodruff severely wounded and the men captured. — Ac-
count by Warren W. Irish, of Company D. — Mine Run. — Attacked in rear. —
Kepulse of the rebels. — A sharpshooter's fate. — Captain Snyder sent to open com-
munication with Colonel Taylor. — The army falls back.— General Lee's intended
attack on the Union left in reverse— A bitter cold night. — Covering the retreat. —
Encamped at Turkey Eun . • / • • • • . .182

CHAPTER Vin.

SPRING CAMPAIGN, 1864.-FROM TURKEY RUN TO RETURN FROM
SHERIDAN'S RAID TO RICHMOND.

In winter quarters at Turkey Eun, near Warrenton.— Camp pranks. — Small-pox. — A
midnight alarm.— Capture of " Bob Ridley."— The regimental flags.— Ee-enlist-
ment. — Special Order No. 11, A. of P. — Off for Elmira. — Destruction of printing
office and saloon in Sunbury. — The boys at home. — Return to camp at Turkey
Eun.— Scouting and picketing again.— Statement of Miss Patton.— Arrest of Mi-s.
Monroe.— Major Weed's account. — Reorganization of the Army of the Potomac.
— General Sheridan in command of the Cavalry Corps.— Composition of the Union
and Confederate Cavalry Corps. — Wounded sent to W^ashington. — Lieutenant
Hayes severs his connection with the Regiment. — Companies K and M return
from detached service with the Second Corps. — ilarch to Morrisville. — Skir-
mishes near Morrisville and Tockctt's Mills. — General Sheridan reviews Gregg's
division. — Ilurried march to Sulphur Springs. — Detachment under Major Weed at
Morrisville returns to camp. — Farewell to Turkey Run.— March to Paoli Mills. —
Order No. 177. — Sand-storm. — Opening of the spring campaign. — Crossing at Ely's
Eord.— Fighting at Todd's Tavern and the Catharpin Road.— A friendly ad-
monition.— Account by Lieutenant Van Tuyl. — The march back to Aldrich's. —
Start on the raid to Richmond.— An attack.— Custer's captures at Beaver Dam.
— A rude awakening.— Engagement at Ground Squirrel Bridge. — Letter from
Colonel Trcichel.— Account from Sergeant John P. White, Company A.— Close
upon the Confederate capital. — A night of great interest.— Death of Generals
Stuart and Gordon. — Inside the Confederate fortifications. — A hard all-day fight.
—The Confederates repulsed and the march resumed.- Alarm in Richmond.— On
*'from" Richmond. — Malvern Hill. — Shelled by the Union gunboats. — Arrival
at Haxall's Landing. — Food, forage, and fire-water obtained from General Butler.
— The Tenth transferred to General Davics's Brigade.— Start on the return to the
army. — Incidents. — Poor eggs for good money. — Crossing the Pamunkey River.
— A severe thunder-storm. — With the army again. — A worn-out command . 156

CHAPTER IX.

SUMMER CAMPAIGN, 18M.— FRO^I HAWES'S SHOP TO CROSSING
JAilES RIVER.

Off for the left of the army.— A night march. — South of the Pamunkey again. — A
severe engacrement at Hawes's Shop. — Custer on the enemy's flank. — A hospital
episode.— March to Old Church Tavem.— Fighting at Cold Harbor.— Relieved
by the infantrj'. — Sumner's Upper Bridge, or Barker's Mills. — Under a heavy
artillery fire. — Bottom's Bridge. — More shelling. — Crossing the Pamunkey at New

Xiv HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

PAGE

Castle. — Another raid. — A hot and dusty march. — Forajring incident. — Battle of
Trevillian Station.— Tiie Tenth with Colonel Gregg's Brigade. — A brilliant charge.
— Accounts by Adjutant Kennedy, Captain Vanderbilt, of Company L, Lieu-
tenant J. M. Reynolds; of Company G. — Experience of Commissary Preston. —
Death of a young Confederate otlicer who had " filled so many lives with happi-
ness, so many hearts with pride." — Incidents of personal gallantry. — Custer's ar-
tillery in the early part of the engagement. — Chaplain's reminiscences. — Relative
rtrengtb of the forces engaged. — The return march to the York River.— Part of
the brigade band bagged. — Foragers wounded and captured. — Arrival at White
House. — Skirmishing. — Engagement at St. Mary's Church. — The Second Division
saves the army trains. — Accounts of the battle by Captain George Vanderbilt,
of Company L, E. M. Tuton, of Company E, Lieutenant James Matthews, of Com-
pany M, Lieutenant David Fletcher, of Company F, and Sergeant J. A. Edson,
of Company D. — Arrival of the trains and troops at the James River.— Crossed to
the south side ■ ■ . . . . . . . . 188

CHAPTER X.

FALL CAMPAIGX, 1864. -FROM PRINCE GEORGE COURT-HOUSE TO
RETURN FROM RAID TO WELDON RAILROAD.

In camp near Fort Powhatan. — Prince George Court-IIouse.— Skirmish at Lee's Mills.
— Movement to the north side of the James River. — On the Charles City Road. —
Engagement at Strawberry Plains, or Deep Bottom. — Back to the south side of
the James.— Fight at Lee's Mills. — General Sheridan takes the First and Third
Cavalry Divisions to the Shenandoah Valley. — Second movement north of the
James.— Engagement at Deep Bottom. — Action of Captain Vanderbilt's squad-
ron.— Good fighting all around. — Colonel Gregg wounded. — Death of General
J. R. Chambliss, Confederate. — Letter from General Gregg. — Extract from Cap-
tain Vanderbilt's diary . — Captain Vanderbilt in command of the Kcgiraent, — Return
to south side of the James. — Jerusalem Plank Road, or Ream's Station. — Skir-
■ mishing. — With Colonel Spear's Brigade, of Kautz's Division, — Return to Da-
vies's Brigade. — More fighting at Ream's Station. — Colonel Avery in command
again. — Companies B, C, D, and G on detached service. — Movement to Stony
Creek. — Lieutenant Charley Pratt's squadron attacked by flying artillery. — De-
tail for recruiting service. — Captain Vanderbilt in command again. — Skinnish at
Ream's Station. — Captain Snyder in command. — Hard fighting at Poplar Springs
Church, or Vaughn Road. — Accounts by Captain J. M. Reynolds, of Company G,
Captain W. R. Perry, of Company A, and Lieutenant David Pletcher, of Com-
pany F.-^The Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry assigned to the First Brigade. —
Action on the Boydton Plank Road.— Stony Creek again. — Return of Colonel
Avery with recruiting detail. — Reconnaissances. — Engagement at Stony Creek
Station. — Accounts by Corporal Ilioks, of Company L, and Captain J. J. Van
Tuyl, of Company K. — The Weldon Railroad raid. — Engagement at Three
Creeks. — A sharp fight. — Account of the raid by C. W. Wiles. . . 222

CHAPTER XL

CLOSING CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR.— FROM DINWIDDIE COURT-HOUSE
TO MUSTER OUT OF SERVICE.

Grant tightening his grip on the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.— Sheridan's
success in the Shenandoah.- Surprise of the enemy at Dinwid<lie Court-IIousc. —
Rowimty Creek. — Hatcher's Run. — Fighting the Confederate infantry. — General

CONTENTS. - XV

PAGE

Bavies wounded.— Woundin;? of Lieutenant-Colonel Tremain. — Account by Cap-
tain J. J. Van Tuyl, of Company K.-»-Tncident3.— A night of sufferin]^. — Deatla
of Captain Fobes, C. S., and Lieutenant-Colonel Tremain. — Kesiguation and
departure of General D. M. M. Gregg. — Colonel Gregg in command of the
division. — Colonel Avery accompanies the remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Tre-
main to Albany. — General Davies in command of the division.— Death of Captain
George L. Brinkerhoff, of Company B. — Return of General Sheridan with the
First and Third Cavalry Divisions. — He immediately proceeds to business. —
Dinwiddle Court-Ilouse again. — Hard fighting. — Account by Captain John P.
"White, of Company L. — Experience of Sergeant L. A. Colburn, of Company A. —
A brave act by a devoted comrade. — Experience of Albert Engle, of Company I.
— The dissolution of the house of Davis near at hand. — Five Forks. — A hard fight.
— ^Prisoners in plenty, the broken pieces of the crumbling Confederacy. — Jeff
Davis in church and trouble. — Petersburg and Eichmond evacuated. — Marching
and countermarching. — Davies's Brigade strikes and captures Lee's wagon train.
— P^e's Cross Roads. — Burning wagons. — Captures of prisoners, artillery, and
flags. — Gallantry of the Union cavalry. — Account by Captain J. J. Van Tuyl, of
Company K.— Battle of Sailor's Creek. — A sanguinary and successful engagement.
— Accounts by Captain J. J. Van Tuyl, of Company K, Captain W. R. Perry, of
Company A, Captain David Pletcher, of Company F, Captain John P. White, of
Company L, and Charles H. (Hugo) Mulertt, of Company C. — Incidents of the
battle. — Greneral Sheridan's estimate of it. — " Let the thing be pressed." — En-
' gagement at Farraville.— -General J. Irvin Gregg a prisoner.— Accounts by Cap-
twn David Pletcher, of Company F, and Lieutenant N. A. Reynolds, of Com-
pany A. — Incidents. — The 9th of April, 1865. — Scenes and incidents. — Capture
of Captain J. J. Van Tuyl, of Company K. — His account of it. — Closing scenes
of the surrender. — Number of men surrendered by General Lee. — Losses in
the Army of the Potomac in the closing campaign. — Relative losses in the
cavalry. — The march back to Prince Edward Court-IIouse. — News of the as-
sassination of President Lincoln. — March to Petersburg. — Off to join Sher-
man's army. — Return to Petersburg. — General Sheridan leaves for "Washing-
ton.— The brigade ordered to Washington. — General Sheridan leaves for New
Orleans.— His disappointment. — In Camp at Bladensburg. — The Grand Review.
— March to Cloud's Mills, Va. — General Davies asks to be relieved. — Con-
solidation of the Tenth and Twenty-fourth Regiments, New York Cavalry. — To
be known as the First New York Provisional Cavalry. — Close of the record of the
Tenth. — Report of Lieutenant-Colonel Sccva, of tlie First New York Provisional.
— Special Order No. 32. — Roster of officers. — Officers rendered supernumerary. —
Off for Syracuse, N. Y. — Final pay and muster out.— Working off the surplus
combativeness.— Final farewells ....... 239

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.
Roster of the Field, Staff, Non-Coramissioned Staff, Band, and Companies, with recapitu-
lations of the same. — About the regimental band and its transfer to a brigade band. —
The honored dead of the Regunent. — Biographical sketches of many of the members. 269

LOSSES IN ACTION.
List of engagements in which the Regiment participated, with names of the killed,
wounded, and prisoners.— Losses by companies . . . . .507

DIED IN SOUTHERN PRISONS.
Names of those who died in Andersonville, Richmond, and Salisbury Prisons . 5-27

xvi HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

PAGE

RECAPITULATION TABLES .528

OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Keports of General D. McM. Greirg, Colonel JuAson Kilpatrick, Major M. H. Avery,
Major Theodore 11. Weed, Captain B. B. Porter, General P. H. Sheridan, and
General H. E. Davies, Jr. 530

APPENDIX.

Pkisox A2a> Escape Experience of Captain B. B. Porter. — Prison life of "W. A. Orser. —
Prison, escape, and recapture of Sergeant B. W. Bounell.— Prison experience of
Erie 0. Van Brocklin. — Prison and escape by Captain A. T. Bliss. — Prison life
of Captain B. F. Lownsbery. — Prison and escape experience of K. II. Ferguson . 543

Official Report of ^Major-General P. H. Sheridan, covering the operations of the
Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, from April 6 to August 4, 18G4 . . 663

GENERAL INDEX 677

INDEX TO POETRAITS.

Adams, Capt. .
Adams, John T. .
Ansley, Ileaton
Averill, Gen. W. W.
Avery, Col, M. 11. .

Barney, Capt. L. L.
Barry, Thomas
Battle ilonument .
Bayard, Gen. George D
Beardslce, Bronson
Beai-dsley, Addison
Bingham, G. W. .
Bishop, Chester
Bliss, Alonzo O. .
Bliss, Capt. A. T. .
Bliss, Surg. Lyman W
Blynn, Muj. Martin II
Bolton, William J.
Bonnell, B. W. .
Booth, George C. .
Boyd, Lieut. Horatio II
Bradley, Capt Jo.-^eph II.
Brooks, S. A. .
Brown, James B. .
Brownell, Frank .
Browuell, ^lark
Bruce, Alfred
Butfum, D. T.
Buford, Gen. John
Bull, Theodore
Burzette, Bcla

Cameron, "\V. "W. .
Cavalry generals .
Clarke, Dr. Henry K.
Cole, Addison
Corwin, Gillespie B.
Cowles, Lieut. John E.
Crandall, C. L.

. 232

. 456

. 854

. 268

4, 284

. 192

. 16

. 106

. 82

. 456

. 406

. 310

. 476

. 38

. 132

, 180

. 296

. 406

. 456

. 180

. 208

. 456

. 484

. 302
288, 302
54, 300

. 310

. 268

. 310

. 126

. 186
2-10, 256, 268

, 208

. 16

. 302

. -126

. 406

Crook, Gen. George
Custer, Gen. George A.

Daniels, H. B.
Davies, Gen. Henry E.
Davis, William E.
Devin, Gen. Charles
Dickinson, Frank .
Dolan, James.
Douglas, M. E.
Dow, E. G. .
Duffi^, Gen. Alfred K

Eldridge, K. L.
Euirel, Albert

Fams worth, Capt. H. E,
Famsworth, Gen. E. J,
Fisk, George L.
Fitts, Lieut. James F.
Fobes, Capt. Edward
Forsyth, Lieut.-Col.
Freer, John A.

Gait, Lieut. Sydenham
Gallagher, John .
Getman, Capt. David
Gettysburg Monument
Graves, Lieut. William
Gregg, Gen. D. McM. .
Gregg, Gen. D. MeM.
Gregg, Gen. J. Irvin
Gregg, Lieut. Thoma
Grittin, Joseph T.

Hall, ^lorgan .
narj-ier, Capt., Provost-
Ilarrison, William X.
Ilartwell, Capt. Elijah
Ilawes, Lieut. Ed. S.

5S, 82, 232, 240,
Stall,

and

Marshal

. 256
. 256

. 310
♦82, 240
. 142
. 268
. 16
. 456

54, 292
. 456

. . 268

348
496

126, 186

. 268

. 456

. 180

. 232

. 240

. 96

132
394

48
106
204
256
232

82
232

232
142
180
180

xviii HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

Ilaxton, B.
Hayes, Albert W.
Ilayts, Henry E.
Henry, James P.
HibbuRl, Enos S.
Hieks, II. G. .
Hills, L. P. .
Hinckley, Lieut. Edgar
Huey, Col. Pennock
Huson, L. J. .
Hutchings, William

Ingersoll, T. G. .
Ingraham, Austin
Irvine, Col. William

Johnson, Capt. Thomas W.

Kemper, Maj. John II. .
Kempster, Lieut. Walter
Kilpatrick, Gen. Judson
King, Lieut. John B. .
Kinney, William B.
Kuhn, Jacob .

Lemmon, Col. John C. .
Lenox, William
Lewis, John W.
Loomis, Capt. W. .
Loomis, W. II.
Lownsbury, Capt B. F.

Mahaney, Michael
Map of Gettysburg
Map of Culpeper to Gettysburg
Map of Campaigns of 1S<U
Map of Dinwiddle C. II. to Appor
Marsh, Asst. Surgeon .
Matthews, Lieut. James
Matthews, Milford E. .
May bury, John R.
Mcintosh, Gen. John B.
McKevitt, Lieut. John T.
McWethcy, J. P. .
McWethey, Kowland S.
Mcrritt, Gen. Wesley .
Miles, W. A. . . ' .
Mitchell, Nelson .
Monument, dedication of
Moodie, J. W.
Morey, Capt. Norris
Morey, Lieut. Horace .
Morse, E. D. .

, ,

456

302

16, 148

r^02

4'JQ

. 354,

40«

■ .

484

348

310

268

354

• •

142

45G

456

• .

180

186

. 16,

342

. 16, 90 1

"54

• •

394

. 96

354

394

456

. •

456

500

116

100

186

nattox

252

232

406

394

484

268

180

. 54,

292

. 240,

256

456

. 54,

300

130

310

. .

456

Morse, S.P

Mulertt, Hugo

Newl)ury, Col. Walter C. .
Non-Conimissioned Stall'
Norton, L. P. . . . .

" Old Van " and " Black Dan "
Orcutt, Lieut. George II.
Ordner, Capt. John
Orton, D, S. .

Paige, Capt. Wilkinson W.
Pease, Surgeon R, W
Peck, Melvin D. .
Perry, Capt. W. A.
Pettis, T. C. .
Pliillips, Edgar D.
Pierce, Capt. John G.
Place, Frank .
Pleasanton, Gen. Alfred
Pletcher, Capt. David W.
Porter, Capt. B. B.
Potter, William H.
Pratt, Capt. Charles E.
Pratt, Capt. Henry S.
Preston, Capt. N. D.

Kay, C. A. .' .
Raymond, A. G. .
Reynolds, A. E.
Reynolds, Lieut. N. A.
Reynolds, Maj. J. M.
Robb, Lieut. Williiun J,
Rockwell, Slorris .
Rogers, J. B. .
Rogers, Jacob C. .
Rogen*, S. S. .
Rose, Henry A.
Rosenburg, C. I. K.

Sargent, A. D.
Sargent, T. A.
Sceva, Lieut.-Col. B. F
Seacord, William B.
Seaman, William I).
Shaver, Adj't. Frank J.
Sheridan, Gen. Philip Iron
Sheridan, Gen. Philip, and
Sherman, L. B.
Smith, Col. Charles II
Spencer, Charles H.
Stark, E. W. .

Statf

456
90

268
16
90

160
488
132
496

376

22
494
204
456
504
400

66
268
382
406
142
180
284
16, 208

. 456

. 484

. 292

. 26

. 180

54, 300

. 354

. 54

. 354

. 394

. 496

. 456
. 456
. 180
. 496
. 456
. 248
cce, 240, 256
. 222
. 354
. 268
. 208
54, 292

INDEX TO PORTRAITS.

SIX

Stevens, Adjt. George II. . . . 180
Stouenuin, Gen. George . , , 268
Struck, George 16

Tackabury, W. W.. . . . . 126

Tulmau, A. C 456

Taylor, Maj. C 232

Thompson, Lieut. Ilarlan P. . 90, 300
Turbert, Gen. A. T. A. . . 240, 256
Torrey, Capt N. W. . . . 170, 456
Treichel,Capt. Charles. . . .232
Tremaine,Xieut.-Col. Frederick L. . 12
Tuft, Ass't. Surgeon . . . .232
Tuton, Hon. E. M 216

Vail, John W. . . . . .126

Van Brocklin, E. O. . . . .472

Vanderbilt, Capt. George . . 32, 160

VanTassell,L 456

Van Tassell, Uri 456

Van Tassell, William . . . .456
Van Tuyl, Capt. J. J 450

"Waters, Maj. Alvah D. .

. 10, 180

Weijtherell, James S. .

. 406

Webb, Sergt. Maj. Frederick L.

. 16

Webster, J. S. . . .

. 606

Weed, Maj. Theodore II. .

132, 284

W^eir, Capt H. C. . . .

. 232

Wells, George W. .

. 456

Werrick, Lieut. Henry .

. 96

Wetherby, David .

54, 292

Whaley, W. D. . . .

. 348

Whedon, Oscar P. .

.^ 16

Wheeler, William.

. 456

White, Capt. John P. .

. 002

White, Lieut. Truman C. .

. 66

Wiles, Clifton W. . .

. 478

Williams, W. W. . .

. 348

Wilson, Gen. James H, .

240, 256

Woodruff, Lieut. Marshall E.

16, 484

Woodrull, Oscar . . .^

. 126

Wyndham, Col. Percy .

. 268

'■:r-ii-'!>^-

: -M-c^.G.

REVEILLE.

\-1

1?/

COLONEL JOHN C. LEMMON.

HISTOEY OF THE
TENTH EEGIMENT OF OAYALET,

NEW TORE STATE VOLUNTEERS.

CHAPTER I.

ORGAKIZATIOJf AT ELMIRA — i:^ WINTER QUARTERS
>*> AT GETTYSBURG.

AJOR JOHN" C. LEMMOX, of Buffalo, re-
^^x ceived authority from the War Department,
under date of August 3, 1861, to raise
a regiment of infantry in the State of
New York, to be ready for service by the
2d of September — one month from the
time authority was granted for recruit-
ing it. About the expiration of the
prescribed time, General Orders, War Depart-
ment, No. 71, dated A. G. 0., September 5, 18G1, were issued, of
which the following is an extract :

All persons having received authority to raise volunteer regiments, batteries,
and companies in the State of New York will immediately report to his Excel-
lency Governor ^lorgan, at Albany, the present state of their respective organi-
zations. They and their commands are placed under the orders of Governor
Morgan, who will recognize them and prepare them for service in the manner he
may judge most advantageous for the interests of the General Government.

As no report appears on the files of the Adjutant-General at Al-
bany from Major Lemmon, he presumably reported in person, and
that, too, prior to September 2Tth, at which time a letter was received
from him relating to transportation. The designation of " infantry "
in the order was no doubt a clerical error, or autliority may have been
given afterward to change it to cavalry. The first year's service of
the regiment would seem to have justified the wording, however, in
its original form. '

It would appear that application for authority to recruit a regi-
1

2 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1861

ment in the State had been made by Major Lemmon as early as the
10th of June, but for some reason, the privilege had been withheld
for nearly two months. The disastrous result to the Union arms at
Bull Eun, in July, probably hastened the granting of authority.

The time for recruiting a regiment of cavalry in the State of Kew
York was most inauspicious. Cavalry was not regarded with favor
by General McClellan, the new and popular commander of the Army
of the Potomac, nor had there been anything done by it in the field
to justify the confidence of the people in its utility. But, notwith-
standing the discouragements of the undertaking, which grew apace
with the times and finally culminated in the regiment being sent out
as a two-battalion organization, recruiting was begun and zealously
prosecuted in various places in western New York. The regiment
was to be called the Porter Guard Cavalry, in honor of Colonel Peter
B. Porter, of Niagara Falls, who had been a distinguished officer in
the War of 1812, and who afterward served as Secretary of War under
President John Quincy Adams.

Early in August recruiting offices were opened in Buffalo, Syra-
cuse, and other points. Company A, Captain M. Henry Avery, of
Syracuse, was the first to complete its rolls and present itself for
muster into the United States service. The first enlistments in this
company, and the earliest, therefore, in the regiment, were Hiram B.
Dodge, Addison Realls, and William B. Kinney, who enrolled them-
selves with the commissioned officers of the company on the 14th of
August. The men composing this company came from Syracuse,
Jordan, Jamesville, and Tully, in Onondaga County ; McGrawville,
Cortland, Cincinnatus, and Freetown, in Cortland County ; Red
Creek and Victory, in Wayne County ; Fulton,, in Oswego County ;
Chittenango, in Madison County ; Buffalo, in Erie County ; and
Elmira, in Chemung County — Cortland County contributing most
liberally in its make-up. It was mustered into the United States
service in the old State Arsenal at Syracuse, on the 27th of Septem-
ber, and the next day left for Elmira, where the regiment was ordered
to rendezvous, going via Cortland and Binghamton. The Cortland
contingent received a rousing ovation on the arrival of the train in
that beautiful village. The company arrived in Elmira late in the
night of the same day, and was assigned to one of the barracks in a
long row, located near the canal basin, known as Barracks No. 2. A
mattress filled with straw, a tin plate, cup, knife, fork, and spoon
constituted the outfit issued to each man, taking which they floun-
dered through the mud and water, and took possession of their quar-

COLONEL WILLIAM IRVINE,

Bnvct Rtrigadier Geveral C. S. I'ols.

AiijuUtut Gcnal State of yeu- Yoik, jS66.

1861 ARRIVALS IN CAMP. 3

ters, the first company of the new regiment in rendezvous. The
initial night was one of boisterous sociability. The acoustic proper-
ties of the palace were thoroughly tested. Every form of entertain-
ment, from song and dance to high tragedy, was indulged in — " three
in a bed and room to spare, full of fun and free from care." Cor-
poral John P. White, who could imitate the utterances of almost
everything in the animal kingdom, crowed, gobbled, and cackled,
with a realism that awakened responses from the sleepy roosters of
the neighborhood. The temporary home was dedicated in a happy
manner. The drill-grounds, barracks, and mess-room resounded
with the merry laughter and chatter of the boys, as they looked anx-
iously forward to the coming of those who were to share with them
the joys and the sorrows, the pleasures and the hardships of the com-
ing years.

The first guard-mount took place the morning after the arrival.
Camp orders and regulations and instructions were read from Gen-
eral Van Valkenburg, commandant of the rendezvous, and the guard
was marched off to perform their first duty as soldiers — guarding the
camp. Orderly Sergeant Xelson Mitchell was an excellent drill-mas-
ter, and he improved the time and the fine parade-grounds for putting
Company A in an efficient condition.

On the 5th of October — one week after the arrival of Company A
— Captain Paige arrived with sixty-eight men; Captain Needham
with seventy-seven, and Captain West with fifty-eight, all from Buf-
falo. The last two detachments formed the nucleus of Companies
B and D. Many of the men had supposed, when they enrolled them-
selves, that they were to serve together in the same company. When
the regiment finally entered upon active service, Companies B and D
were usually squadroned, much to the satisfaction of the men of
both, who were nearly all from the same section.

At a " war meeting " held in Golden, Erie County, on the 1st of
October, Albert F. Chandler, Edward Clark, John B. Buff urn, Daniel
T. Buffum, Chester Bishop, Oscar M. Drake, Orson A. Drake, Orlando
D. Dyer, Perry M. Morse, James L. Morse, ^Murray L. Morse, Charles
Newell, Harlow Perham, John P. Underhill, William Underhill,
John T. Sampson, and Warren Irish enlisted under Marshall R.
Woodruff, who it was understood would receive a commission, but in
the final adjustment of the regimental affairs he was left out. He,
however, accepted a subaltern position, and cheerfully served with the
boys until a year later, when the addition of a third battalion to the
regiment gave him the position he was entitled to at the beginning.

4 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1861

Company C, Captain Ordner, arrived on the 9th of the same
month, followed soon after by Companies G, Captain Carpenter; D,
Captain Purdy ; and E, Captain Morey. These companies were re-
cruited mainly in Erie, Niagara, and Chemung Counties. Company
C, composed almost wholly of Germans, was from Buffalo. Company
F, although appearing on the muster-in roll as from Buffalo and
Elmira, were nearly all enlisted at Niagara Falls and vicinity. Be-
fore leaving their native village this company was addressed by Col-
onel Peter A. Porter, who was afterward commissioned as colonel of
a New York regiment, and was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor,
June 3, 1864. He was a son of General Peter B. Porter, already
mentioned, in honor of whom the regiment was named. With these
additions the camp presented an animated appearance and began to
assume a martial aspect.

Although those under whose charge the various companies and
detachments arrived were designated as captains or lieutenants, none
were commissioned until after the regiment had been filled up as a
two-battalion organization and received its numerical designation.
Some of them never received commissions in the regiment.

On the 7th of October, while awaiting the filling up and organi-
zation of the regiment, General Van Valkenburg assigned Captain
Avery to the command of all the troops in Baixacks No. 2. As fast
as the men arrived they were assigned quarters and at once put on
duty — drilling, doing guard duty, etc. A spirit of friendly rivalry
soon manifested itself among the companies to excel in the move-
ments, manual of arms, and saber - exercise. The men were all
anxious for active service, and zealously entered into the labor of
fitting themselves for it.

ROSTER OF COMPANIES.
COMPANY A.
Captain^ M. Henry Avery.
1st Lieutenant, Henry S. Pratt. 2d Lieutenant, Theodore H. Weed.

Sergeants.
Nelson Mitchell {Isf). Charles H. Spencer. James F. Dickinson.

Hiram B. Dotlge {Q. J/.). Henry E. Hayes. Lyman Higley.

Corporals.
George W. ConwelL Rowland S. ^IcWethey. George Watson.

Noble D. Preston. John E. Cowles. ' David Wallace.

Mark Bro^ynell. John J. Jovuer.

#f^

^.V-'-V ' -.^IV

COLONEL MATTHEW H. AVERY.

18G1

ROSTER OF COMPANIES.

Addison Cole, Bugler,
James H. Cook, Bugler,

Andrew J. Smith, Saddler.
Frederick Youngs, Wagoner,

Austin, "William.
Baker, William A.
Beckhorn, Thompson B.
Bird, Theodore.
Bishop, William N.
Brownell, Benjamin F.
Bruce, Alfred.
Carder, Henry.
Carrington, Welles H.
Clark, Charles.
Clark, James P.
Colburn, Erastus.
Colburn, Lewis A.
Congdon, John.
Coon, Boyington.
Corwin, Gillespie B.
Decker, George.
Deyo, Franklin.
Douglas, M. E.
Duvall, WUliara.
Eastman, James.
Fish, James E.
Ford, John.
Ford, Reuben.

Privates.
Freeman, Henry.
Gunn, Burrill.
Hall, Alonzo.
Hall, Morgan.
Hammond, Duane.
Hammond, James S.
Harsh, Jacob.
Hayes, Albert W.
Hicks, Luther F. P.
nines, George.
King, John T.
King, Ransom G.
Kinney, William B.
Knight, Charles A.
Kreiger, Frederick.
Lanninger, Gustave.
Leslie, Carroll.
Marlin, George.
Mayyou, Alonzo.
McKenzie, George D.
McWethcy, John P.
Miller, Van Ness.
Moffitt, Joseph.
Morgan, William A.
Myers, John.

Page, Edwin M.
Perry, Walter R.
Phillips, John.
Pierce, James.
Realls, Addison.
Reynolds, Norman A.
Rice, Horatio H.
Roberts, William H.
Rockwell, Morris P.
Rogers, Jacob W.
Root, John H.
Sanders, Robert H.
Schenck, John.
Senter, Lyman.
Sherman, John G.
Smith, James E.
Stark, Edward W.
Thompson, Harlan P.
Waggoner, Andrew.
Wallace, Alexander H.
Wetherby, David.
W^hite, John P.
V/ilbur, William.
Woodward, George.

COMPANY B.

Captain, Albert H. Jarvis.

1st Lieutenant, Henry Field.

Sd Lieutenant, John C. Hart.

Thomas Jones {Isf).
Wm. H. Moody {Q. M.).

David T. Goodell.
Silas Metcalf.
Thomas Taylor.

Jarvis A. Chapin, Bugler.
Francis Irvine, Bugler,
Thomas Barrv, Saddler,

Sergeants.
James M. Ocarr.
Isaac W. Draper.

Corporals.
Marion Smith.
Reuben Metcalf,
Joseph Cross.

Elijah Hartwell.
Frank Place.

Saul Leigh.
John Shaw,

Henry Richards, Farrier.
Joseph Saunders, Farrier.
James R. Ilobbs, Wagoner.

HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1861

Ayers, Arville D.
Beck, Einil.
Bishop, Chester.
Blood, Charles F.
BuSum, Daniel T.
Buffum, John B.
Bull, Theodore.
Burzette, Bela.
Bush, Horace.
Calkins, William H.
Carpenter, William H.
Casey, Edwin W.
Chandler, Albert F.
Clark, Edwin.
Clark, Robert M.
Clark, William.
Coffien, Alpheus H.
Cook, Reuben.
Coulson, William L.
Cowles, Samuel.
Cozen, Thomas.
Drake, Orson A.
Drake, Oscar M.
Dyer, Orlando.

Privates.
Edmonds, George.D.
Emery, Edward F.
Gage, Stephen W.
Goodell, George W.
Hall, James P.
Hathaway, William.
Hill, Jay.

Hitchcock, Theodore.
Hoffteling, Abel T.
Irish, Warren.
Knowlton, Byron.
Moodie, John W.
Morse, James L.
Morse, Murray L.
Morse, Perry M.
Nelson, Newton B.
Newell, Charles.
Payne, Truman W.
Perham, Harlow.
Porter, John W.
Roberts, Edward.
Roe, Delavan H.
Rogers, Sherman S.
Sampson, John,

Scott, William B.
Slocum, Philip.
Smalling, William.
Southwick, Gilbert S.
Stone, Leander.
Stoing, Charles.
Storms, John W.
Taylor, Frank.
Underhill, John.
Underhill, William.
Vail, John.
W'ade, Simeon.
Wolfen, Archibald.
Walker, George.
Walsor, Eli.
Webb, Frederick L.
Webster, Warren.
Wendt, Frederick.
Wightman, Henry.
Wilson, Franklin M.
Winstead, Milo.
Woodruff, M. R.
Woodward, Allen.
Worden; Herman.

COMPANY a
Captain, John Ordner.

1st Lieutenant, L. L. Barney.

2d Lieutenant, John Werickc

Sidney Foster {Isf).
Edgar Hinckley {Q. 31.)

Joshua Lautenshlager.
Philip Neeb.
James Long.

Joseph X. Kunzi, Bugler.
Nicholas Koerber, Bugler.
Peter Schang, Farrier.

Acreck, John.
Allen, John.
Amun, Laurence.

Sergeants.
^lichael Miller.
Henry Werick.

Corporals.
Abram Ritter.
Lewis Schafer.
George Beck.

John A. Scherer.
George A. Tyrell.

Jacob Browner.
Martin Mortsolf.

Xavier Egloff, Farrier.
Anthony Margie, Saddler,
John Miller, Wagoner,

Privates.
Arnold, Christopher C.
Beach, Charles II.
Biahr, Sebastian.

Book, John.
Borst, Andrew.
Bourgeois, Gustein.

1861

ROSTER OF COMPANIES.

Breakman, Ilenry.
Brown, John M.
Browner, William.
Busch, Edward.
Cook, Henry.
Corden, Henry.
Crager, Henry.
Debold, Michael.
Dickerson, George.
Ehrman, Henry.
Everett, Alvin B.
Everts, John.
Fagel, Frederick.
Ferran, Godfrey F.
Fogelsonger, Elias.
Fracher, ^Vfagnus.
Gardner, Christian.
Geison, Rudolph.
Golah, Jacob.
Hartman, Frederick.
Hartsleib, John G.

Hinkley, Edward.
Kanock, Henry.
Kenney, Gay^ord F.
Klock, Monroe.
Klock, Peter.
Klock, Sanford.
Koerber, Nicholas.
Kratz, Christian.
La Francis, William H.
Mager, Wedlin.
Mapes, Abraham.
Menkel, Charles.
Meyer, John.
Meyer, Nicholas.
Miller, John B.
Morris, James.
Portongsein, Emile.
Rant, James.
Richer, Ferdinand.
Rider, Joseph.
Roasler, William.

Raquet, Martin.
Rutschman, Albert.
Sailer, Frederic.
Saulsbury, Frederick.
Sauvain, Peter.
Schorpp, Leabold.
Seiblich, Charles.
Seigel, John C.
Shultz, Carlo 0.
Sipple, Henry.
Smith, Louis.
Sottebier, Henry.
StoU, Peter.
Strack, George.
Studeman, Ernst.
Vibbard, Elijah.
Vibbard, James.
Vibbard, Orrin.
Voser, Jacob.
Warmuth, Joseph.
Westcott, Arden.

COMPANY D.
Captain, Emery Piirdy.

lat Lieutenant, Aaron T. Bliss.

2d Lieutenant, Joseph A. Hatry.

Sergeants.
Sydenham Gait {Isf). William J. Robb.

William G.HimrodC^.Jf.). Wesley Tackabury.

Daniel W. Belton.
Norman R. Gifford.

Alfred J. Edson.
Richard H. Oliver.
James Mathews.

Corporals.
Wellington Stone.
Mortimer Spring.
Everett C. Updike.

Jay Crocker.
Richard L. Tuke.

Herbert E. Farnsworth, Bugler.
John W. Fletcher, Bugler.
Joseph Spielman, Farrier.

Ichabod Beardsley, Farrier.
Joseph Metzler, Saddler.
Caleb J. Ran die, Wagoner,

Adkins, Burton F.
Ainslcy, Heaton.
Anthony, Edward.
Ashtenaw, Joseph F.
Avery, Amos D.
Bainbridge, Michael.

Privates.
Bell, Walter.
Benjamin, Marvin H.
Biggs, Charles F.
Briggs, Charles.
Briggs, William.
Brodock, Jacob R.

Brooks, Alonzo D.
Brown, Reuben S.
Burlew, John.
Buton, William.
Crowell, Everett W.
Davis, David R.

HISTORY OF THP: TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1861

Davy, Albert.
Eastman, Charles.
Edmonds, Lewis.
Edwards, Josiah.
Eldridge, Augustus.
Evans, Elias D.
Evans, Robert.
Finn, William.
Griffin, James.
Hadden, Hiram.
Hannawald, Leonard.
Hempstead, Nathaniel.
Hibbard, Enos.
Huson, Leander J.
Laird, Eli.
Leek, John D.
Lenox, William S.
Lewis, Lorenzo.

Lounsbery, John.
Mabbett, Joseph I.
Manchester, \Villiam,
McEUigott, Thomas.
McElroy, Henry.
McKeagan, Joseph.
McQuien, John H.
Miles, John.
Miller, Gurdon H.
Morgan, Charles.
Mosher, Philip J.
Myers, Charles.
Phipps, Ezra.
Pratt, George B.
Read, Stephen.
Robinson, Walter.
Rogers, Jerome B.
Ryan, William.

Sexton, Loren.
Shepherd, John A.
Sherman, Ledra B.
Slea, George.
Spencer, Silas R.
Stevens, Calvin.
Swartwout, Alexander H.
Swartwout, Robert B.
Tallmadge, More.
Telyea, Eli.
Telyea, Marsena.
Trotter, Robert.
Van Alen, James.
V/ashburn, Liba Z.
Whaley, William D.
White, Ebenezer S.
White, Truman C.
Williams, William W.

COMPANY E.

Captain, Norris Morey.
l8t Lieutenanty Layton S. Baldwin. 2d Lieutenant, William A. Snyder.

Horace Morey {1st).
Samuel Baker {Q. M.).

Abram Tucker.
Henry H. Pennoyer.
Jonas Hambleton.

Sergeants.
Thomas W. Johnson.
Hiram W. Layton.

Corporals.
Harvey B. Snyder.
Franklin C. Holcomb.
William W. Vanderhoff.

Nelson P. Layton.
George W. Sprague.

Henry H. Hambleton.
Judson H. Dowd.

William Doan, Bugler.
Nelson Dimon, Bugler,
John Phlegar, Farrier.

Baker, Andrew I.
Barr, Moses.
Benedict, George.
Bentzel, Daniel.
Bentzel, Philip.
Blinebry, George.
Bold, Herman.
Bower, Peter.
Bowman, Bvron B.

Edward H. Starkey, Farrier,
James Hussey, Saddler.
Peter Gorgan, Wagoner,

Privates.
Brooks, William.
Bull, Edward A.
Butler, Abram.
Carr, George W.
Carrier, William S.
Charlesworth, John.
Chilcott, Gilbert.
Clifford, Charles W.
Davis, William C.

Dimon, Abraham.
Drown, Napoleon B.
Eldridge, William.
Ells, Charles.
p]ntwistle, John.
Farnsworth, William K.
Fields. Lucius.
Gloris, Henry.
Gould, Joseph.

1861

ROSTER OP COMPANIES.

Gressman, Theodore H.
Hicks, Alfred.
Hills, Lucius.
Hogaboom, Henry H.
Hummel, Julius.
Johnson, Robert.
Kenyon, Hiram.
Laroek, Charles.
Larock, Joseph.
Leach, Stephen H.
Leonards, Owen.
McDougal, James H.
Otto, James.
Parker, Smith.
Patterson, George.

Phillips, George.
Plumb, Harvey N.
Prentice, George S.
Prentice, William M.
Reeves, Samuel.
Robinson, Charles A.
Stedwell, Isaac E.
Silver, Benjamin C.
Silver, John.
Skut, Ira.
Smith, Marcus.
Smith, Richard.
Snyder, William A.
Sours, Franklin.
Sourwine, William B.

Sprague, Horace W.
Stanclift, Edwin J.
Strite, Gootlip.
Tabor, George H.
Taylor, Thomas B.
Thomas, Edelbert.
Thompson, Reuben S.
Tripp, Edward M.
Uhls, Frank.
Welsh, Addison G.
Wester, Benjamin C.
Whittem, James H.
Williams, John.
Williamson, Alexander S,
Wood, Francis.

COMPANY F.

Captain, Wilkinson W. Paige. 2d Lieutenant, William H, Whiting.

Sergeants.
James Harrison {Isf). Hiram Frazer.

Edward S. Hawes {Q. M.). John Hopkins.

David Binkley.
James M. Miller.
Thomas Fleming.

Corporals.'
Henry James.
Ezra McMirick.
Alfred Owen.

Henry L. Barker.
David Fletcher.

John Barr.
John Robinson.

Mathew Donnely, Bugler.
Christian Whitener, Bugler.
James Keams, Farrier,

James vCobb, Farrier.
Eailie Collins, Saddler.
.John M. Kilpatrick, Wagoner.

Arkins, Thomas.
Astill, Anthony.
Bichel, Anthony.
Blyle, Jacob.
Bartlam, Charles.
Bradley, Edward.
Bringle, Andrew.
Burgess, William P.
Burgher, Ralph.
Burns, Robert.
Calvin, Andrew.
Chesbrough, S.
Claflin, Lafavette.

Privates.
Clarke, William H.
Collins, Eleazar W.
Conrad, John.
Cooper, Charles.
Dagman, Michael.
Bay, Lawrence.
Day, Nelson V.
Devereux, Daniel T.
Donner, Henry.
Doyle, John.
Finn, Charles.
Fitts, James Franklin.
Gallagher, John.

Griswold, Chester M.
Handen, John.
Hopkins, Robert.
Howe, Arron.
Hubell, George W.
Jacobs, James.
Kennedy, Thomas.
Kuhner, Frederick.
Lettice, James.
Limberg, Herman.
Lutler, Henry.
McDonald, Charles.
McDonald, Dennis.

10 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CxWALRY. 18G1

jyiclntire, Peter.
McKnight, George M.
McLaughlin, Owen M.
McLelland, William A.
Minotte, Charles.
Muraford, Charles.
Myers, James i.L
Newmeyer, Clemence.
Orser, Albert W.
Patterson, William.

Peterson, William R.
Pierce, Edward.
Pletcher, Henry.
Riddle, Stewart.
Roundy, Charles.
Schreoder, Christian.
Shay, John A.
Spicer, Franklin.
Staley, John.
Stottle, Franklin.
Stuttleberg, James.

Townley, Thomas L.
Troutman, Joseph.
Vinter, Thomas.
Volmer, George.
Volmcr, Michael.
Whitehead, OUver C.
Wick, John,
Wright, Dennison,
Young, Jacob.
Youngs, William.

COMPANY G.

Captain^ Delos Carpenter.
Ist Lieutenantj Alrah D. Waters. 2d Lieutenant, John (t. Pierce.

Sergeants.
John J. Van Tuyl ilsf). Wallace S. Springstein.
Burton B. Porter {Q. M.). John T. McKevitt.

Seymour A. Hosford.
James M. Reynolds.

Ira Cooper, Jr.
Delos E. Landers.
Hiram Reynolds.

Aaron K. Clark, Bugler.'
Isaac Bradley," Bugler.
James Morrison, Farrier.

Corporals.
George Schenck.
John R. Bennett.
Luke Allen.

William W. Cameron.
John T. Pratt.

William Welch, Farrier.
Frederick Lewis, Saddler.
Pulaski J. Vincent, \yagoner.

Adams, William, Jr.
Albro, Arvin N.
Austin, i\Linning.
Bailey, Joseph M.
Bailey, Lewis C.
Barber, Henry C.
Barnes, William S.
Bennett, Jesse D. •
Blakesley, Hubert.
Bliss, James.
Bloser, George.
Bowers, Joseph L.
Brown, William P.
Burk, John.
Car>', James L.
Cavanaugh, Martin.

Privates.
Compston, Charles P.
Cornish, James M.
Cronan, Timothy.
Cutting, Charles S.
Deniston, Harvey.
De Wolf, Moses.
Downs, Sanford.
Dye, Edmund.
Fairfield, John M.
Fink, Edwin A.
Griswold, George !M.
Hable, Casper.
Hawkins, Theodore.
Heseldon, George.
Hogoboom. Ebenezcr B.
Hopkins, Charles.

Jessup, Winslow.
Jiraerson, Isaac, Jr.
King, Omera L.
Kilts, Charles W.
Kilts, Daniel.
King, John B.
King, Smith D.
La Grange, Casper.
Livingston, Gardiner,
Locke, Charles A.
Loomis, Vinson.
Main, Milo A.
McGuyer, Samuel.
McLaughlin, Thomas.
Meagher, Daniel.
Menter, William.

MAJOR ALVAH D. WATERS.

1861

ROSTER OF COMPANIES.

Oothoudt, Philo G.
Palmer, James.
Pendleton, George S.
Pier, Edwin.
Pierce, Gideon B.
Pullura, John R.
Rice, Franklin.
Robinson, Erastus B.

Schenck, Amasa D.
Stearns, Charles H.
Steel, Corneli^is.
Stewart, John G.
Story, Asa J.
Sykes, Warren F.
Thompson, John.
Turk, Martin V. B.

Wade, Rowland D.
Walker, Hiram P.
Walker, Willard.
Whedon, Oscar P.
Whipple, Charles E.
Williams, Jesse G.
Wilson, George.

COMPANY H,

Captain^ William Peck.
l8t Lieutenant, Francis G. Wynkoop. 2d Lieutenant, Ira W. Allen.

Sergeants,
Charles E. Pratt {Ut). Benjamin W. Bonnell.

GeorgeVanderbilt((2.-3/'.). Guy Wynkoop.

Ephraim D. Warner.
Albert S. Whittaker.
Hiel Lockwood.

Corporals.
Jonas Erway.
Gideon C. Dudley.
John H. Watkins.

Austin Ellsworth.
John C. Reynolds.

Henry W. Kelly.
Edward H. Hayden.

James P. Cowles, Bugler.
William P. Lindsay, Bugler.
Stephen Ellis, Farrier.

Chester G. Wilcox, Farrier.
William Weygint, Saddler.
Thomas Molineaux, Wagoner

Allen, Lorenzo.
Barber, Elemuel.
Bingham, George W.
Bishop, Moses D.
Bonnell, Lansing.
Borland, Charles H.
Borland, William.
Brearley, Joseph H.
Collins, Edward K.
Cotton, Thomas B.
Davis, William E.
Earley, Samuel.
Ellis, Willis S.
Embree, Henry.
Goldon, Charles D.
Grimes, John H.
Guthrie, William.
Hammond, Edwin.
Harrison, William N.

Privates.
Hicks, John C.
nines, Edward J.
Howland, George W.
Hubbell, David C.
Hubbell, Harlow.
Hunter, Henry T.
Hunter, James D.
Hutchings, James A.
Hutchings, William.
Jacobson, Henry S.
Keiley, John.
Kellogg, James.
Kenyon, Wilkinson P.
Kennedy, George M.
Lee, Samuel.
Lockwood, Emmet.
Lowe, John F.
Mallory, Silas.
McCrcary, Julius.

Middaugh, John W.
Miner, William.
Munn, Theodore L.
Minnick, Isaac H.
Mix, Jasper.
Newton, Gearge W.
Norton, Billins.
Odell, George W.
Piatt, Daniel N.
Potter, Amzah.
Potter, William H.
Reynolds, James S.
Rose, Edward.
Shedd, James B.
Shelp, Myron H.
Shipman, Rufus T.
Shortt, Stacey.
Skinner, James.
Smith, Mahlon K.

12 HISTORY OF THE TENTH JiEGiMENT OP CAVALRY. .1861

Smitli, Stephen. Townsond, Alviii. Woller, William S.

Stebbins, Edmund. Van Wormor^Lnman. Welton, Michael.

Swain, Lewis. Vineont, Clayton, Wethcrall, James S.

Thompson, Abram J. AVarner, Elia<. WoodniiT, 0::;cnr.

Tittsworth, Simeon. ^ Weaver, Francis. Wright, George.

At a meeting of tlie line officers lield in the parlors of the Che-
mung House, in Elniira, on the 2i;*th of November, the following
field officers were elected :

Colonel John C. Lemmon.

Ideuienani-Colonel William Irvine.

Major First Battalion M. Henry Avery.

Major Second BaitaUon . . . . , John H. Kemper.

Chaplain . Rev. Robert Day.

Dr. E. W. Pease, of Syracuse, had nlready been ap^jointed surgeon
of the regiment by the Governor of tlio State.

Clothing for the men arrived and vras issued on the 30th of ^NTo-
Yember. The suits wore mostly of a generous size. Had the cloth
been judiciously used there would liavti been sufficient in the suits to
have clothed the entire regiment, but, as it was, some of the smaller
fellows got suits so large that tliey rattled around in them, to the
great amusement of tiieir comrades. However, tlie uniforms, like
everything else, finally ])ccame adjusted.

A retired Prussian officer, Tiained I^ernstein, was employed by the
ofiicers to drill the regiment. He ^^ as a vain old fellow, displaying a
profusion of gold lace and temper — vanity and profanity. He had a
large, subterranean voice, of coiir^idci able 'compass. He also had a
conspicuous corporosity, and a gum-clastic step, that gave him quite
a distinguished appearance, but as a diill-master he was a dismal
failui-e.

Had the regiment been under the command and instruction of a
regular army officer from the beginning — a good tactician and dis-
ciplinarian— it would have been ol" great advantage. The material
of which the regiment was compo^rcd was excellent. A large propor-
tion of i\\Q men came from the rund sections in western and central
New York, and were robust and intLlligent, well read and well bred.
The average age of the enlisted jncn was below twenty-five years,*
and more than forty per cent were t\venty-one years and under. An

* The average age of all the troops funii^licd by the State of New York dur-
ing the war, as given by CajUain Phistorer, in " New York in the War of the Re-
bellion," was twenty-five years, seven inonilii;, and twenty-six days.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FREDERICK L. TREMALN,

Died of Wounds received in Action at Hatcher's Run, Va.,

Fcbruai^y 6, /S6_t;.

1861 THE MORGAN CAVALRY DISBANDED. 13

efficient and energetic young man with a thorough military education
might have placed the regiment, in the front of the mounted regi-
ments in the service in a short time. Although all were from civil
life, the ofificers of the regiment made rapid strides in the knowledge
necessary to lead and command men, and, with few exceptions, would
compare favorably with any in the service.

Life in the barracks was somewhat monotonous, with its daily re-
curring guard-mounts, drills, and saber-exercise, but there was an
occasional relief in some little incident like the following :

It was on a cold, raw day — just such a day as a company could be
exercised in the double-quick without starting the perspiration. The
water in the canal basin bore a thin film of ice on its surface. Order-
ly Sergeant Mitchell felt proud that his company were thoroughly
disciplined. He had them out drilling, and had given the command
to " double quick," with the column headed toward the basin, when
his attention was suddenly attracted in the opposite direction ; the
edge of the basin was reached, and no command came for a change
of direction or halt. " Ker-plunk ! ker-plunk ! ker-plunk ! " went
one after another of the men into the cold water, which was from
two to three feet deep. The splashing attracted the sergeant's atten-
tion, who, when excited, stuttered badly. " H-a-a-lt ! y-o-u f-e-1-
lows in t-he di-ditch, c-c-coun-ter-march ! D — n it, b-o-ys, take h-hold
and he-lp 'em o-out ! " Mitchell was always afterward attentive to
duty when drilling his company.

General Alexander S. Diven received authority from the War De-
partment on the 3d of October to raise a regiment of cavalry in the
State of New York. This regiment was to be called the Morgan
Cavalry, in honor of the Governor of the State. A recruiting office
was opened in Elmira by Captain A. J. McWilliams. About thirty
men, among the number Oscar Woodruff and Jonas Erway, had en-
listed with one Captain Up de Graff, prior to this time. This com-
pany having been disbanded- by General Van Valkenburg, many of
the men enlisted with Captain McWilliams, of the Morgan Cavalry.
George Vanderbilt, L. L. Barney, Jonas Erway, Oscar Woodruff,
James Wetherell, James S. Keynolds, and John C. Reynolds, "all
good men and true," as their subsequent records proved, were mem-
bers of this latter company, which was soon filled up. As it became
evident, however, that another regiment of cavalry could be raised
only through the most extraordinary efforts at that time, the enter-
prise was abandoned, and the company of Captain McWilliams was
disbanded on the 18th of November. These men were nearly all

14 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REgImENT OF CAVALRY. 18G1

transferred to Company H, of the Porter Guards. Luther L. Barney,
who was lieutenant in Captain McWilliams's company, was trans-
ferred in the same grade to Company C ; while George Yanderbilt,
who was to have been second lieutenant, was made quartermaster-
sergeant of Company II.

By the advancement of Captain Avery, First Lieutenant Pratt
was promoted to captain of Company A, and "William C. Potter, of
Buffalo, was commissioned first lieutenant, and assigned as regimental
adjutant on the 25th of November.

Fears were entertained that the regiment would be mustered out,
or an attempt made to transfer it to another branch of the service,
as the outcry against the further enrollment of men for the cavalry
was quite pronounced. Every effort, therefore, was directed to the
completion of the two battalions already organized, rather than jeop-
ardize the life of the regiment by attempting to raise the third bat-
talion. Drills, reviews, and parades were kept up, and the regiment
was in a good state of efficiency and discipline before leaving the
State. Its knowledge in the line of " picket skirmishing " was de-
rived from actual experience, as will be seen by the following extract
from the Elmira Advertiser of October 18, 1861 :

For the gratification and exercise of the men and for the entertainment of the
citizens, Colonel Sheppard has arranged with Colonel Lemmon to detail tliree
companies of the Porter Guard Cavalry for work, picket skirmishing on the hills
east of the village during the forenoon. This will be a foretaste of active exer-
cise different from anything heretofore ordered at the depot. They will be armed
and equipped as infantry, and not mounted.

The "picket skirmishing" came off according to programme,
Company C being one of those participating, led in person by the
gallant Captain Ordner, of rotund form, who puffed and wheezed like
a porpoise as he urged the men up the steep and rugged hillside.
They presented a fine spectacle as, in unbroken line, they swept to the
assault of an imaginary fort on the crest of the hill. But, in the
supreme moment of his glory, the valiant captain of Company C
fell! As he rolled down the hillside he scattered the leaves and
choice bits of broken English, to the dismay of his company and the
amusement of his brother officers.

The regiment participated in a grand review and parade of all the
troops at the Elmira depot, which occurred on the 28th of October.
Its marching was superior to that of any other organization in the
line.

The numerical designation of the regiment as the " Tenth Xew

18C1 MUSTERED INTO SERVIJE. 15

York Cavalry " was announced by the Adjutant- General of the State
on the 12th of December. As the year was drawing to a close, the
men began to exhibit signs of uneasiness. They longed for the
change which was near at hand. " Eunning the guard " and dodging
the patrol was about the only excitement or adventure to relieve the
off-duty hours. The welcome news came, the latter part of December,
that the regiment was ordered to Gettysburg. No one appeared to
know or care much where Gettysburg was. Some of the Company A
boys insisted that the village of Geddes, near Syracuse, was the place.
Meantime the men, while speculating on the probable location, com-
menced active preparations for a move. Trunks and valises were
packed for a long journey. Letters were dispatched to the loved ones
at home, announcing the intended invasion of Gettysburg. The
little Bibles were carefully deposited in the inside vest-pockets as pro-
tection against rebel bullets, pocket-knives were sharpened, and every
preparation made for actual war. Meantime the location of Gettys-
burg had been discovered. It was- a relief to know that it was in
loyal old Pennsylvania. The men felt quite brave, and began clamor-
ing for an advance. They had been drilled for months, dismounted,
and they welcomed a mounted movement — even if it was to be on
freight-cars — as an agreeable change !

Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, and II were mustered into service on
the 23d of December (Company A had been mustered in on the 27th
of September), and the regiment was in readiness to leave the rendez-
vous. The next evening, Tuesday, the 24th of December, they were
marched through the mud to the depot, where the seven hundred
and thirty-five enlisted men and thirty officers were squeezed into
two long trains of freight-cars. The arrival or departure of a regi-
ment of soldiers had ceased to be a novelty to the citizens, and there
were no demonstrations, and but few were in attendance to " see the
boys off." The amount of personal baggage with which the men
struggled would have made a corps of newly-arrived Italian emigrants
envious. But it was all taken care of at the cost of a few hours' delay
and some highly-perfumed language, and the column moved out on
the raid to Gettysburg. The night was damp and gloomy without,
but all was cheerful witliin. Singing and shoutiiig drowned any sigh
that might have escaped from those who tliought of distant homes
and friends. It was Christmas-eve. But little sleep was enjoyed.
Every extravagance that ingenuity could conjure up was indulged
in, to keep the fun going. But before the objective point was
reached, the high tension to which the nerves of the boys had been

16 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1861

strung yielded to Nature's demands, and they were in nearly as played-
out a condition as when, on the. return from the Stoneman raid, in
after-days, some of these same men fell from their horses from sheer
exhaustion.

The journey ended when the trains pulled into the little depot at
Gettysburg on Christmas-night, having been more than twenty-four
hours on the road, the distance of which should have been covered in
eight or ten hours.

The following is a complete roster of the Field, StafE and Non-
commissioned Staff, and Band, on leaving Elmira :

FIELD AND STAFF,

Colonel^ John C. Lemmon,
lAeut&iiant-Colonely William Irvine.
MajoTj M. Henry Aveiy (1st Bat.). Major, John H. Kemper (2d Bat.).

William C. Potter, Acting Regt. Adj. Benj. F. Sceva, Acting Q. 31. 1st Bat.
James F. Fitts, Adjutant 1st Bat. Luther L. Barney, Acting Q. M. 2d Bat,

Wm. L. Lemmon, Adjutant 2d Bat. Roger W. Pease, Surgeon.
Henry Field, Acting Regt. Q. 31. George D. Whedon, Asst. Surgeon.

Rev. Robert Day, Chaplain.
.» * .

N0N-C03I3IISSI0NED STAFF.

Noble D. Preston, Sergt.-3Iajor 1st Bat. M. R. Woodruff, Com. Sergt. 1st Bat.

Fred'k L. Webb, Sergt.-3Iajor 2d Bat. Oscar P. Whedon, Com. Sergt. 2d Bat.

Walter Kempster, IIosp. SVd 1st Bat. Jos. T. Griffin, Saddler Sergt. 1st Bat.

Bonville Fuller, Hosp. SVd 2d Bat. Thomas Bairy, Saddler Sergt. 2d Bat.

John B. King, Q. 3I.-Sergt. 1st Bat. Jas. P. Dickinson, Vet. Sergt. 1st Bat.

Henry E. Hayes, Q. 3I.-SergL 2d Bat. Alvain Butler, Vet. Sergt. 2d Bat.

The following constituted the band :

Edwin Pier, Company G, leader.
Chester M. Griswold, Company F, 2d Eb comet.
Isaac Jimerson, Jr., Company G, Bh cornet.
Aaron K. Clark, Company G, 1st Eb tenor.
' J. B. Shedd, Company H, 2d Eb tenor.

W. H. Clark, Company F, 1st Bb tenor.
Thomas L. Townley, Company F, Eb tuba.
Albert W. Orser, Company F, snare-drum.
Oscar W. Drake, Company B, bass-drum.
Smith D. King, Company G, cymbals.

Sergea nt- Major.

Setgea n t- Major.

Q.M. sergeant.

Com'w Setz^atJt.

LlLJ—A^

<?. A/. Sergeant.

OoCAf^ P. Wl-ISDON,

C<3>«'^'. Sergeant.

Saddler Sergeanl.

Saddler Se'geaut.

ADDISON COL=,

C// />/" Bugler.

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF- lSOl-2.

1861 FIRST DRESS-PARADE. 17

A few determined citizens of the town remained to welcome the
Eegiment as the train pulled int© the depot at Gettysburg that
Christmas-night, 18G1. There was but little enthusiasm or noise ;
the boys were too tired and hungry, on their part, and the good peo-
ple were too conservative, for anything of the kind. But their quiet
demeanor and modest ways, served to bring out in strong contrast a
generosity and hospitality which have always remained a pleasant
theme with the men of the Regiment who were quartered among them
during the winter of 1SG1-'G2. The ladies had provided refreshments
for the men, and had awaited their arrival with puddings, pies, and
patience, until the lateness of the hour — far beyond the time of their
usual retiring — induced them to return to their homes, taking the
provisions with them. This was the regiment's first " provision re-
turn." It was found necessary to keep the boys in the cars all night,
as no quarters had been provided, and the lateness of the hour pre-
vented their being obtained. It was difficult sleeping on empty
stomachs and car-seats, but the boys managed to worry through the
long-drawn-out hours and came forth with the rising sun, showing a
remarkable degree of freshness. Many of them had managed to elude
the guards the night before, and found comfort and welcome in the
homes of the citizens. The morning roll-call disclosed a great many
" absent without leave." As soon as it was light enough the men
started out on the morning of the 20th to discover the town. Squads
of them could be seen in every direction, surveying the buildings
with all the deliberation of assessors, and many of them evinced a
desire to take a view of tlie interiors. The borough had been pretty
well sized up before the inhabitants had left their beds.

It was decided to hold a morning dress-parade, and, responsive to
the bugle-calls and the inspiring music by the band, many of the citi-
zens hastened to tlie public square, where the various companies
marched and took their allotted places in line. After the adjutant
had announced the formation. Colonel Lemmon commanded, " Atten-
tion, battalion!" dwelling lovingly on the last syllable of the first
word, and giving to the latter a sharp, full-grown emphasis, that
caused the wondering people to surmise that the " battalion " was
about to be reprimanded for some cause. Finally, the " dress-parade "
was ended, the band continuing to play, to tlie delight of the citizens,
the troops, meantime, marching off.

The people had turned out in large numbers to do honor to the
occasion and to quietly absorb a little of the glory eii passant. They
had never before seen a militarv organization larger than a company
2

18 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1861

within the borough limits. The presence of a whole regiment of real
soldiers was an event of great importance to them ; and it was, prob-
ably, an event of no less importance to the soldiers to be looked upon
with so much awe and admiration.

After the dress-parade had been dismissed, the officers tramped
the surrounding country over in search of a suitable place for locating
the regimental camp. It was finally decided to build the canvas city
on the farm of Dr. David Shafer, near the railroad bridge over Eock
Creek, just east of the village. In the mean time the soldiers had
" deployed as skirmishers " through the town, and, like the missiles
from Orpheus C. Kerr's patent cannon, went in every direction.
During the day temporary quarters had been secured for the various
companies, as follows :

Company A in the old Lecture-room, near the jail.
Company B in the Coach-shop in Middle Street.
Company C in the Court-House.

Company D in Sheads & BuehlerVWarehouse, second story.
Company E in Blue's Hall, Sheads & Buehler's building.
Company F in the Public School Building.
Company G in the Ten-pin Alley.
Company H in McConaughey's Hall.

The Non-Commissioned Staff were located in a brick building on
Carlisle Street, above the "Washington Hotel.

The Hospital was established in a brick building on Carlisle
Street, between the rooms occupied by the Non-Commissioned Staff
and the Washington Hotel. Dr. R. W. Pense, Regimental Surgeon,
was in charge, with an excellent aide in Assistant Surgeon George D.
Whedon.

Quartermaster Field fixed upon the corner room in the Franklin
House (McClellan's) as a suitable place for the transaction of the
business of his department. From this sightly position Quartermas-
ter-Sergeant Hayes could look out upon the " broad expanse " of the
public square, and take in at a glance nearly everything of interest
transpiring in the town.

The band practiced " Larry O'Gaff," the " Gettysburg Quickstep,"
and other favorite airs, in a room on the second floor of the railroad
station-house.

Hector M. Stocum, the sutler, exposed his wares for sale in a room
on Chambersburg Street, adjoining Buehler's drug-store.

The Eagle Hotel (Tate's) was enlivened by the presence of the
officers of the Regiment at all times when off duty.

1801 ADDRESS OF COLONEL LEMMON TO THE CITIZENS. 19

The following address to the citizens was issued and published in
the village papers :

Head(Juarters Porter Guard Cavalry,
New York Volunteers,

Gettysbubo, December 26, 1861.
To THE Citizens generally :

The Tenth Ke^iment of Cavalry, New York Volunteers, has become located
in your village, under direction of the Secretary of War, preparatory to encamp-
ing in your neighborhood. As commandant of this corps, the sole object of
which is to assist in the suppression of an unholy and fratricidal rebellion, it is
my earnest desire that its relations with you should be firmly established upon a
friendly footing, and to this end I would request that any and all breaches of
good order in your midst by any person connected with the Regiment be promptly
reported to me. I have also to particularly request of dealers in ardent spirits
that they will not, under any circumstances, sell or furnish to the non-commis-
sioned officers and privates any intoxicating or spirituous beverage. All good
citizens and patriots are earnestly invited to join with me in preserving the
sobriety and morality of the Regiment, as essentially conducive to decency and
order, and as the means whereby a desirable harmony may be insured between us.

By order of
^ John C. Lemmox, Colonel Commanding Regiment,
James Franklin Fitts, Adjutant First Battalion.

The following order was read by Adjutant Fitts, at dress-parade,
on Friday, January 3d :

Headquarters Tenth Regiment Cavalry,

New Y'ork Volunteers, Porter Guards,

Gettysbubo, December 28, 1801.
General Order No. 20 :

The Commandant desires to remind the soldiers that they are now located
within forty miles of the camps of their enemies,' and that, in view of this fact,
strict military discipline and subordination are more than ever necessary. The
health and comfort of the regiment will be scrupulously cared for by its officers,
and measures are now being taken to provide for the accommodation of the men
in one general encampment, or barracks, as shall be thought best. Until such
time as the Regiment can be assembled together in regimental quarters, the several
companies are enjoined to the observance of good order and discipline, and
promptness in the discharge of duty. No soldier will so far forget what is due
to the citizens and friends who have so hospitably received and welcomed us as
to abuse them by taking and converting any of their property, or by disorderly
or boisterous conduct. Violations of these regulations will be met by severe
punishment.

Reveille will be sounded, until further orders, at 6.30 o'clock ; breakfast-call
at 7.30; assembly of guards at 9; drill-call at 9.15; dinner-call at 12.1o; sick-call
at 1.15 : retreat at 5 ; tattoo at 9 ; taps 9.30. Dress-parade at 4.30 p. m.

By order of

John C. Lemmon, Colonel Commanding,

James Franklin Fitts, Acting Adjutant

20 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1803

Tents had been erected on the ground selected for camp, but, the
number proving inadequate to the tlDmand, it was decided to send a
delegation of officers to Washington to lay before the Secretary of
War the advisability of providing barracks for the llegiment.

An event that cast a gloom over the entire Regiment occurred on
Saturday, December 28th. Private John W. Congdon, of Company
A, who had remained in Elmira sick when the Eegiment left that
place, was on his way to rejoin his company. As the train he was
on passed the camp, he stepped upon the platform of the car, and
was swinging his hat in joyful recognition of his comrades, when his
head came in contact with the timbers of the bridge over Rock Creek,
and he fell from the cars and through the bridge into the creek.
When the men who ran to his assistance reached him he was dead.
He was a man of a kind and gentle disposition, and was much
esteemed by his associates. His funeral occurred on Sunday — the
day following his death — the entire Regiment turning out. The
funeral ceremonies were attended by the citizens generally. The
Chaplain, Rev. Robert Day, pronounced the services, which were
simple but impressive, and the remains were laid to rest in Evergreen
Cemetery — the first Union soldier buried there. Eighteen months
later, over the spot where he was peacefully sleeping, the Federal
batteries belched forth death and destruction, and the graves were
ruthlessly torn by shot and shell, and trodden by infuriated men and
horses in one of the most desperate conflicts known to history.

The first review of the Regiment took place on Tuesday, the 31st
of December. It was an event of considerable importance. The
men acquitted themselves very creditably, and the whole atfair was a
pronounced success. The marching was very fine, and elicited ap-
plause from many of the fair critics who had assembled to witness
the display.

Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine and Quartermaster Field, accompanied
by Hon. Edward ^IcPherson, left for Washington, on Wednesday
morning, January 1st, to urge the erection of barracks for the Regi-
ment.

One of the attractions for Xew Year's was a sham prize-fight
between John A. Shay, of Company F (Savers), and Godfrey Farren,
of Company C (Ileenan), on the public square. The men had ex-
perienced as much difficulty in getting together as professors of the
manly art have in more modern times. Once or twice meetings
arranged for the purpose had been dispersed or prevented by the
timely arrival of tlie guard sent by the Colonel, but they had finally

1862 BARRACKS ORDERED BUILT. 21

succeeded in giving an exhibition before a large number of enthusi-
astic spectators. At length Adjiitant Fitts arrived, and, usurping the
office of referee, stepped into the ring and declared the thing a draw,
and ordered the men to their quarters.

From the time of the organization of the Regiment there had pre-
vailed an unfortunate difference among the officers, which had grown
apace with the times, until it had ripened into the most intense
partisan warfare, the factions being known as " Lemmon " and " Anti-
Lemmon " men ; the declared purpose of the latter being to oust
Lemmon from his position as colonel, alleging incompetency and old
age, rendering him unfit for the place ; while the Colonel, generally
on the defensive, sometimes took the offensive. This is not the
proper place to discuss or mention the merits or demerits of either
party, but simply to notice the fact and its baneful influence on the
Regiment. Not only did many of the enlisted men range themselves
with the contending factions, but numbers of the citizens were un-
consciously drawn into the unfortunate quarrel. Confined to the
officers, the effect of such a state of affairs would have been sufficiently
demoralizing to seriously impair the efficiency and morale of an
organization ; but when participated in by the enlisted men and
citizens among whom the officers and men moved, it became posi-
tively vicious in its tendency. It stands as a monument to the high
character of the men in the Regiment that they did not become seri-
ously demoralized.

Quartermaster Field received the regimental flag, storm flag, and
guidons, together with boots, blankets, etc., for the men, on Saturday,
January 5th, and issued them immediately.

The officers deputed to visit the Secretary of War, at Washing-
ton, returned on the Gth of January, -with authority to have barracks
erected. The site selected was on the farm, of Mr. George Wolff,
about one mile east of the village, on the south side of the York
road. The location was on high ground, insuring good drainage
and pure air. Adjoining the place decided on for erecting the
barracks was a fine wood, and in the rear a broad, open field, well
suited for mananivring the Regiment. A detail of eight men
from each company was made every day to work on the buildings,
the lumber and nuiterial for w^liich was furnished by dealers in
town.

The inclement weather had prevented continued work on the
barracks, and as a consequence the companies remained in their
" temporary " quarters in town, until Monday, February 3d, when a

22 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REODiENT OP CAVALRY. 1862

sufficient number of the buildings were completed to admit of four
companies moving in. '

An event of great interest to the Eegiment and the citizens oc-
curred on Saturday, the 1st of Februar}-. After many delays and
postponements the presentation of a silk baiiucr to the Regiment, the
gift of Miss Elizabeth Poi'ter, of [N^iagara Falls, took j^lace on that
day. The affair had been well advertised, and an extra train of cars
was run from Hanover. The presentation speech was made by Adju-
tant Fitts, and the flag was accepted by Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine on
behalf of the Iicgiment, in an appropriate address, Colonel Lemmon
having been suddenly called to Washington. Tiie speeches are too
lengthy to admit of reproduction here.

The ladies of Hanover forwarded frequcTit donations of clothing
and delicacies to our sick, and gave the " Union Relief Association
of Gettysburg " much valuable assistance. ]\rrs. R. G. Harper, Pres-
ident of the Gettysburg Relief Association, and Mrs. Jerome Young,
President of the Hanover Association, worked harmoniously and
efficiently for the relief of our sick in hospital.

The brilliant Union victory at Roanoke Island was celebrated by
a grand parade, music by the band, and burning of powder, on
Saturday, February 15th.

The anniversary of the birthday of the immortal Washington
made a further draft on the large stock of patriotism always kept on
hand by the Regiment. The memory of the Father of his Country
was duly polished up by parade and serenade, promenade and lemon-
ade, firing of cannon, and speech-making. ■ The band had just re-
ceived new instruments, and used them for the first time on this
occasion. A company of home-guard cavalry came straggling into
town to join the Regiment in celebrating the day. The uniforms
worn by this peculiar cavalry company were unique, combining ap-
parently the ancient, medlirval, renaissance, and Comanche. And
such style of horsemansliip ! It was low down and away up with
every step the horse made wlien trotting. The brief sojourn of these
valiant knights in town furnished an abundance of amusement.

There were frequent social gatherings in the village during the
stay of the Regiment, and the soldiers always constituted a good part
of the attendance. Few, if any, doors in tlie village were closed to
the Porter Guards. The names of Harper, Gulp, Falmcstock, Shick
and Shead, ]\IcPherson ami ]\lcConaugheY, ^[cllhenny and McCuUy,
Tyson and Tate, AYills and Woltf, Kendlehart and Codori, Shafer
and Shriver, Ziogler, and liosts of others, will ever be pleasantly asso-

SURGEON ROGER W. PEASE.

1862 CARD FROxM SURGEON PEASE. 23

ciated with the name of Gettysburg by those of the Regiment who
passed the winter of 18Gl-'62 in the village.

Serenades by the band were of frequent occurrence, and were
greatly enjoyed by the citizens.

Early in March rumors were circulated of a change of location
for the Eegiment, and it was no surprise that came on the 6th of
March, to be prepared to move the next day. The cars were in
readiness, and immediate preparations were made for leaving our
brevet home. By noon on Friday, the 7th, all arrangements had
been perfected, and the two long trains bearing the Porter Guards
steamed away, amid loving adieus, and waving of handkerchiefs.
The Sentinel, in mentioning the departure of the Eegiment, said :

The large number of our citizens who assembled to " see them off " must have
shown to the Tenth Regiment that their presence among us had not been an un-
pleasant one ; and we think we utter an almost universal sentiment, that their
departure was regretted. For ourselves, our intercourse with those of the officers
and men with whom we were placed in familiar and almost daily sociality, and
of their pleasant and lady-like companions in life, has been one of the most agree-
able character, and we need not say we parted from them with regret. . . .

"We shall follow the Porter Guards as they go onward. They have Our wishes
for a speedy and honorable service, and trust they will look back with kind re-
membrance to the pleasant intercourse they had with us.

These kind words were in consonance with those which appeared
in the Star, a few days after the arrival of the Eegiment in the vil-
lage, the following being a brief extract :

This much we can say for the Porter Guards, that we have not seen anywhere
in our experience a finer-looking regiment — a regiment, generally speaking, com-
posed of men more gentlemanly in their deportment, more intelligent and better
behaved, and we profess to have seen no inconsiderable numbers since the out-
break of the rebellion.

The following card was published in the village papers :

Gettysburo, March 7, 1862.
On leaving Gettysburg I desire to return most grateful acknowledgment for
the unremitting kindness and sympathy manifested by its inhabitants toward our
sick and suffering soldiers. The ladies have been most faithful visitants at our
hospital, supplying each want and administering to every need. Gentle hands,
prompted by warm hearts, have been found ready to respond to oft-repeated calls.
And as we go forward, doing what we may in behalf of our beloved country, we
shall hold in grateful remembrance the unnumbered favors of which we have
been the recipients.

R. W. Pease, Surgeon Tenth Hegiment New York Cavalry,

24: HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALllV. 18G2

The Hon. Edward McPhersoii rendered the Iicgiment excellent
service while it was in Gettysburg. To his interest and influcDce the
Regiment was indebted for its barracks.

There has long been an unanswered question, how the Begiment
came to be sent to Gettysburg in 1861. The following letter, ad-
dressed to the historian, will explain this :

Clerk's Office, House of Representatives,

"Washikgton, January 25, 1800.

My Dear Sir : I have yours of 23d. I received from the Secretary of War
the assignment of Gettysburg as the place of rendezvous for the Porter Guards in
the winter of 1861-'G2. 1 was then Representative in Congress for that distiict ;
and as the United States authorities were seeking proper sites at that time for
camps for drill purposes, I represented the accessibility, convenience, and other
advantages of Gettysburg. The Hon. Simon Cameron was the Secretary of War,
and granted my application.

I was in Gettysburg on their arrival, and made the personal acquaintance of
many of the officers and men of the Regiment. The Lieutciuint-Colonel, William
Irvine, had served with me in the preceding (Thirty-sixth) Congress. But I was
absent from Gettysburg during the larger part of their stay.

Very respectfully yours,

Edward l\IcPnEKSON.

18G3

THE JOURNEY TO PERRYVILLE.

CHAPTER II.

PERRYVILLE, HAVRE DE GRACE, BALTOIORE,
WASHIXGTOX.

LOW and tedious was the journey from Gettys-
burg to Baltimore. It was nine o'clock when
the Monumental City was reached. Nearly
the entire night was consumed in transfer-
ring the baggage and camp and garrison
equipage to the President Street Depot,
whore the boys were enabled to catch a little
'^ sleep in the cars. After considerable switch-
ing and thumping y about, changing of cars, etc., the trains finally
started out, and the Regiment was whirled away toward Perry-
ville, Md., over the P., AY. & B. Railroad, leaving Baltimore early
in the morning, arriving at its destination about 9 A. 31.

At Perryville comfortable quarters were in waiting in the bar-
racks but recently vacated by the Fourteenth United States Infantry.
Perryville, at the time of the arrival of the Regiment, was a densely
populated town of mud, mules, and mulattoes, of which the mud was
the only permanent fixture. That stuck through all time. The
mules were there for instruction and muster into service. They were
confined in a stockade covering several acres. A corps of negroes
were in attendance to drill them, " break 'em in," as they expressed
it, which consisted in liarnessing and hitching them to heavy wagons
and turning them loose in the mud. After proper instruction in the
art of " drawing," they were branded " U. S." on the shoulder with
good, serviceable Gotliic letters. This constituted a mule's muster
into service.

Perryville had been an important point in the early days of the
rebellion. On assuming command of the troops in and around Wash-
ington, General McCIellan says in his report :

I directed a large depot for transportation to be established at Perryville, on
the left bank of the Siis(iuehanna, a point equally accessible by rail and water.

26 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGL^IENT OF CAYALKY. 1SG2

Captain C. G. Sawtelle, Assistant Quartermaster, was detailed to organize the
camp.

Captain Sawtelle was in charge of the depot at tlio time the
Tenth was there. Tlie importance of tlie depot Ava.-: not great,
however, at that time. The Ira Harris Cayalry was also en-
camped at Perry ville, like the Tenth, awaiting horses and eqnip-
ments.

The feeling of discontent among the enlisted men of the Regi-
ment, which had been growing in consequence of I icing withheld
from active service, became more manifest after reaching Perry ville.
The sentiments entertained were not displayed by boisioroiis talk or
threatening acts, but a quiet and firm resolve was made by a large
majority of the men to endeavor in some manner to cany out the
purposes for which they enlisted, and it was thought that the best
way to reach that object was to petition the Secretary of War to have
the Regiment mounted and sent into the field or disbanded. The
partisan feeling in the Regiment at this time was running liigh, and
no doubt contributed not a little to the disaffection among the en-
listed men.

On the 2Gth of March the command was moved across the river
to Havre de Grace, relieving the Scott Lite Guard, Fourth Xew York
Volunteers. Here were comfortable barracks and good drill-grounds
located on the banks of Chesapeake Bay. The First Battalion, under
Major Avery, was assigned to duty guarding the important bridges of
the P., W. & B. Railroad between Havre de Grace and Baltimore.
Company F was located at Perrymans, Company G at Gunpowder
Bridge, Company C at Bush River Bridge, and Co]n])any A, with
whom Major Avery established headquarters, at Back River Bridge,
near Baltimore. The companies at Havre de Grace guarded the
large ferry-boat Maryland, used in transporting the ears across the
river at that point. This historic old craft had played an important
part in the early days of the war. On the '>?Oth of April, 18G1, the
day following the Baltimore riot, General Butler arrived at Perry-
ville with nearly eight hundred Massacliusetts troops oi route for
Washington, and, finding the bridges between that place and Balti-
more had been burned, embarked his troops on this steamer and took
them to Annapolis.

While lying at Havre de Grace, a petition bearing tlie signatures
of a large number of the enlisted men of the Regiment was for-
warded to the Secretary of War, praying that the Regiment might bo
mounted and sent into the field or disbanded. About this time Ser-

i-.

^: .

>^-^', ^

% ' ^

"■•/I

X-

^ /

■■■/

MAJOR JAMES M. REYNOLDS.

1862 MUSKETS STORED. 27

geant Frank Place, of Company B, received a furlough, and while
home, in Cortland, X. Y., recruited a sufficient number of men for
an infantry organization then being raised to entitle him to a com-
mission, thereby securing his honorable discharge from our Eegiment.
lie was a popular young man, of marked ability, whose loss was
much regretted.

Rumors had been in circulation among the men that an attempt
was to be made to transfer the Regiment to the infantry service, and
this caused renewed excitement. Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine had ex-
pressed the opinion that the men would have to take muskets for a
while. The boys well knew that to take muskets for a while meant
to retain them to the end, and they assumed and maintained a firm
stand in opposition to taking them. The muskets were already
stored in the various barracks at Havre de Grace and along the rail-
road. They were a rusty lot of old-fashioned pieces, unsightly and
unsafe. They would " hang fire " equal to a book agent aiid kick
like a hungry mule. The fine canvas- back ducks would sometimes
cause the boys to forget their vows not to use them ; but they gen-
erally felt the full measure of punishment for breaking their prom-
ises. Once, and only once, Avere they used by the boys as " imple-
ments of war." This occurred at Back River on the -ith of April.
On that day a Government detective appeared in the quiet camp
of Company A, and asked to be shown to the commanding officer's
quarters. He stated that a schooner was lying at anchor down the
bay some three or four miles, on which Avere a large number of re-
crLiits for the Confederate armies, which he thought might be capt-
ured by prompt action. The story of the capture is best told by
one of the participants, Corporal (afterward Captain) J. R White, of
Company A. Here it is, verbatim :

In the summer of 1SG2 Company A Avas camped at Back River, Maryland,
seven miles from Baltimore, guarding the railroad bridge. Our arms consisted
of old rusty muskets, turned over to us by tlie Fourth Xew York Infantry (Scott
Life Guards). A Government detective, or secret-service ofiicer, came to camp
one day and informed the otlicer in command that a party of rebels had secretly
left Baltimore, and crossing the river had seized a wood schooner about eight
miles below our camp, on Back Kiver, confined the crew of the schooner below,
and were awaiting an opportunity to sail out into the Chesapeake Bay, and cross
over into Reboldom. Lieutenant T. 11. Weed, with eleven men, composed of
sergeants, corporal.-, and privates, armed with the above-mentioned rusty mus-
kets, with one cartridge in gun and one in pocket, started out to end tiie rebellion.
We marched through the hot, deep sandy roads and woods near the banks of the
river, until we were opposite the schooner. There were only two persons in sight.

28 HISTORY OF THE TEXTri REODIRXT OF CAVALRY. ISGO

the reraaindor hiding b.l' -.v. Tliciv were four skiiTs mooroJ to the side of the
river near us. Lieutenai.t ^Veod divided us up into four squads, and instructed
us to pick our boats and n<iKc a run for theiu. \V(i obeyed orders; jumped into
the boats, <\\\d pulled f ' r il.e h-'.iiuoner. J'ut the skills being so sluiUow, and this
being our iii'st expcrior.e.j as marines, we v»'ould liit our knees with the oars, and
turn the boats eompleii'y around at times. However, we "got there," after a
while. The rcl)S had rnsi;:d up on deck, and liieutenant Weed ordered them to
surrender. They start cI to give three cheers for J elf Davis and the Southern
Confederacy, but; the elcvon old muskets c.niio up and they never finished the
cheers. Tiiey tied their k;r've.^, revolvers, and letters in a large Confederate flag,
and threw all overboard. They were ordered below, and the captain and mate of
the schooner released. Whiic we were rowing to\^'ard the schooner three of their
number escaped in a boat; to the opposite sliore. After capturing the schooner.
Lieutenant Weed and four men started in pursuit, and on approaching the shore
two boats, each manned by oii^ht marines (one boat having a, small howitzer in
the bow), was rowed nipirlly toward them. The marines ordered our boys to
*Mieave-to," but they didii't liuavo. So the marines fired a shot across their bow.
The boys heaved! After an explanation, some of the marines joined in the
search. 1 have forgotten \vherher the three rebs were captured, but I think they
were.

It seems tlie Baltimore ofTicers had also notified the commandant of Fort
McHenry, and that ofSeer had sent the revenue cutter Reliance up to the mouth
of Back River to capture them as they came out. Two boats' crews were sent up
the river to ma!:e the capture; but wo, being '"horse-marines," and experts in the
"dough-boy " business, got there first. Upon examination of our prize, we found
we had twenty-two men, one of them a Confederate lieutenant, wearing a new
gray uniform under his dross of citizen's clothing. He had been recruiting in
Baltimore. About two hours after the capture we saw a horse and carriage come
down to the river's edge, and, fastening the horse to a tree, the driver made signs
to us. We answered the si.-ns by sending three or four men to meet 1dm. When
they neared the shore, he discoNered that iliey were Yanks, and he lit out through
the woods. Well, that c,!r?'i;i ro contained -i bountiful supply of sweet, boiled
hams, soda-craekers, etc., ;iitunii*:(I for the rei'S, We confiscated the eatables, and
the secret-service men took the horse and cirriage to Baltimore. We stood
around the hatchway eatini: t)ie good things, to the discomfort of the picnic party
they were intended for. r.al\ there l.-eing an ivbuiidiiuee, we gave thorn a portion
after enjoying their chagrin tor a while. A calm prevailmg, the crew could not
sail under canvas, so tho olV.r.r ni comns;ind of the marines manned the boat
again and h;id them tow ih'; sc;hooner. It was now about midnight; near morn-
ing there sprang up a good, still breeze, and v.'e set sail, and made the bay about
daylight. The oilicer in eommai.d oC the lu'lianee came on board, and we started
for Fort .McIIenry. The Yrvonm cutter cotild not keep in sight of us. Arriving
at the fort we turned ovc]- the prisoners, and )iad breakfast theiv. after which we
marched to G^'neral Wo .is l;(\:i'}4uarters jiiul wore complimcritfd by the old
veteran. Nov,-, if we tw»'Ive lo.n didn't think the ivb;dlion would end right there,
it wasn't because we hadii'i done our duty toward crushing it ! We took train
for Back River, and on our arrival found Company A formed in ojxm ranks,
facing in. to iveoive us, ;r..d K\\ Turner an-l Jriuies Cook (Joe Cook, the Irish

1862 LIEUTENANT WEED'S ACCOUNTS. 29

bugler) played and sung " See the conquering heroes come ! " The name of the
captured schooner was Resolution.

Lieutenant (afterward Major) Weed writing of the capture, says :

After we got to the schooner, and wliilo we were boarding her, the rebels all
rushed down the hatchway, and all we had to do was to clap the cover over to
pen them. I then took four men and followed three, who were going for an
isla!id. Tv.-o boats, containing eight men each, put out from the revenue cutter
Reliance, which had been sent up from Baltimore, and intercepted us, and made
us heave-to. One boat's crew landed, and I got into the other boat with Lieu-
tenant Thompson, of the revenue cutter, and went to the opposite side of the
island (Lieutenant Thompson was well acquainted with the country around there).
We caught the three chaps, one of whom proved to be a captain and another a
lieutenant, as we found the next morning, when we searched them, each wearing
a fine uniform of gray beneath their citizen's dress.

I went on board the revenue cutter on the morning of the 5th, and took break-
fast with Lieutenant Thompson and the Captain, whose name I have forgotten.
I was royally entertained. 1 shall never forget the passage from the schooner to
the cutter. The waves ran from twenty to thirty feet high, and I in a gig,
which seemed so small! Well, I made up my mind I had done my last soldier-
ing, but 1 finally reached the cutter without mishap.

Major Avery and Captain Pratt finally left camp and proceeded
to the scene of operations, but arrived after the capture had taken
place.

Fishing and flirting occupied much of the time of the hoys at
Havre de Grace. The shad were plenty and the girls pretty; but
even these considerations failed to produce contentment. The men
appeared to prefer raiding to guarding, fighting to fishing, field-
service to the e)i)iui of camp-life on the Chesapeake, and so it was
welcome news that came, about the middle of June, that the Regi-
ment would soon be relieved and transferred to Virginia. In appar-
ent confirmation of this, pistols and carbines were received and issued
on the 19th of June.

A pass from the "Colonel commanding^' was sufficient to insure
free transit on the railroad between Havre de Grace and Baltimore,
and the privilege was taken advantage of by the boys, to their great
enjoyment. The capacity of the road was taxed to its utmost in
transporting troops and material southward during the time the
Regiment was guarding it. As the long trains laden witli troops
pa.-'sed the camps, cheers and salutations of good-will were given the
soldiers by our boys, who would gather on tlie banks as tlie cars
passed by, and tlie response woidd roll along from front to rear of
the long trains, ending witli tlie never-forgotten tiger. The express-

30 HISTORY OF THE TENTH KEGIxMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G2

trains usually contained some people who thought of the soldier when
making arrangements for the trip, as there would issue from the open
windows of the ilying cars packages containing such trinkets as were
calculated to supply the imaginary wants of the soldier, together
with fruit, newspapers, etc. As tlie trains would whirl past, followed
by a cloud of dust, the boys w^ould scamper for the testimonials of
loyalty and regard.

On the 25th of June orders were received for that portion of the
Regiment stationed at Havre de Grace to i^roceed to Baltimore.
Everything w^as put in readiness and the detachment left about noon.
On arriving in Baltimore the companies were reviewed by General
Wool, commanding the Eighth Army Corps, after wliich they were
assigned to Patterson Park, at the eastern end of the city, where they
went into camp. Companies A, C, and G remained on duty, guard-
ing the bridges of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail-
road, between Baltimore and Bush River.

Immediately following the riot in Baltimore, April 19, 1861, a
party, headed by I. R. Trimble, one of the officers of the railroad,
and at the time Assistant Marshal of Baltimore, proceeded over
the road with car-loads of combustible material, for the pui-pose of
destroying these bridges. They w*ere successful in causing a partial
destruction of them, thus preventing the passage of trains bearing
Union troops to the defense of the national capital.* The bridges
were soon after rebuilt, but their destruction was " a consummation
devoutly to be wished" by the secessionists, and it required "eternal
vigilance " to prevent their being burned again. Even as late as
July 11, 1864, two years after the Tenth was relieved from guarding
them. Colonel Harry Gilmor, with the First and Second Battalions of
Maryland (Confederate) Cavalry, made a dash and attempted the de-
struction of Gunpowder Bridge, but was driven off by the guard
stationed there, aided by a gunboat.

Company G was occupying the position of greatest trust, protect-
ing the long bridge just named. The next most important bridge,
for whose safety the Regiment was held responsible, was one over
Bush River, guarded by Company C. The Back River Bridge, while
not of so great length as either of tlic others named, by reason of its
near proximity to Baltimore — six miles — rendered a keen vigil neces-
sary to prevent its destruction by secessionists, who might make a

* Trimble afterward entered the Confederate service, was made a major-gen-
eral, and lost a leg at Gettysburg.

NEW QUARTERS AT PATTERSON PARK. 31

sudden raid from tlie city. This vras guarded by Company A. The
duties were not so onerous or important, however, as to prevent the
boys making the acquaintance of the surrounding inhabitants and
partaking of their hospitality.

The new quarters of the Regiment, Patterson Park, was a beauti-
ful place. Before its occupation by the Tenth it had been used for
a like purpose by a small infantry command. The park was located
on high ground at the eastern end of Baltimore and Lombard Streets.
It commanded a fine view of the bay, and Fort Marshall to the east
and Forts McIIonry and Federal Hill to the south. Through the
park was a line of earthworks, grass-covered, but perfect as the day
on which they were thrown up. They were erected by the Ameri-
cans, at the time of the landing of the British under General Ross, at
Long Point, and used in the defense of the city when the advance of
the British army was made in support of their fleet during the bom-
bardment of Fort McHenry, September 15, 1814.

Adjoining the park, on the north, was the extensive Patterson
Park Hospital, organized by Surgeon R. W. Pease, who was detached
from the Tenth for that purpose, and was promoted to surgeon-in-
charge on its completion. It had a capacity for twelve hundred
patients, and ranked with the best hospitals in the country.

Dress-parades, police and camp-guard duties were the only exer-
cises the Regiment was called upon to perform to stimulate digestion
while stationed here. Large numbers of ladies were always attracted
by the dress-parades, which were held in the street in front of the
park.

The Third New York Volunteers were stationed at Fort McTIenry,
the Fifth 'New York (Duryea's Zouaves) at Fort Federal Hill, and
Reynolds's Independent New York Battery at Stuart Place, at the
opposite end of Baltimore Street. The cam.ps of these organizations
were daily visited by some of the members of the Tenth. The drill
of the Light Battery and the bayonet-exercise of the Fifth New York
Volunteers were especially attractive. The latter regiment was a
large one, and made a very showy appearance in tlieir bright Zouave
uniforms. They were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Gouverneur
K. Warren, afterward major-general of volunteers and commander
of the Fifth Army Corps. Tliere were other otlicers of this regiment
that attained high positions in the army, and some of them lent luster
to the mounted arm of the service. The Major of the Regiment was
J. Mansfield Davies, afterward Colonel of the Harris Light Cavalry.
Judson Kilpatrick and Henry E. Davies, Jr., the former our first and

32 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G2

the latter our last brigade commander, who both rose to major-gen-
erals of volunteers, were captains in this regiment.

On a requisition bearing date July 17, 1802, a portion of the
Regiment received horses at Patterson Park in August, and on the
15th of the latter month marched for AVashington in the afternoon,
mounted, where the}^ arrived at midnight and went into camp near
Bladensburg Toll-gate, just east of the Capitol.

Companies A, C, and G, on being relieved from guarding the P.,
W. & B. Railroad by the Nineteenth New York ]\Iilitia, went direct
to Washington, arriving at one o'clock in the morning, Saturday, the
ICtli of August. They were quartered in the Soldiers' Retreat, where
they had breakfast, and then marched to the camp. Here the Regi-
ment became reunited on ground made historic as the battle-field be-
tween the British forces under Admiral Cockburn and General Ross
and the Americans under Generals Winder and Brown and Commo-
dore Barney, in which the Americans were defeated and the capital
was sacked and burned on the 24th of August, 1814, just forty-eight
years before. In this unfortunate atTair Colonel Stansbury, of Balti-
more, commanded the Baltimore Brigade, including the Fifth Regi-
ment, made up of the best blood of the city. The barracks occupied
by Company A, when located at Back River, were on a plantation
owned by a Colonel Stansbury, a man whose sympathies with the
South in the impending struggle were pronounced. He may have
been a descendant of the first named — perhaps an unworthy son of a
worthy sire.

The ground occupied by the Regiment was rendered famous also
as the place where many noted duels had been fought. The Bladens-
burg dueling-grounds are described as '^ not far west of Bladensburg,
just beyond the line which separates the Federal city from the State
of Maryland, a short distance otf the road from Washington." Not
far from here the famous meeting between Henry Clay and John
Randolph occurred on tlie 8th of A})ril, 182G; and here, not long
prior to the battle between the British and Americans, already re-
ferred to, a United States Secretary of the Treasury shoe his antag-
onist through the body in "an atlair of lionor; " and here, too. Com-
modore Stephen Decatur, Jr., was killed on the 22d of March, 1820,
by Commodore James liarron, who was severely wounded in the same
encounter, and nnmy oriiers of lesser note liad yielded up their lives
or liad been disabled on this spot, victims of the barbarous code.

The place at the time the Tentli encamped there was well suited
for the purposes of a cavalry stati')U. A bmad field extended toward

.^if.

a. ^^^'^•^■^^(U^Ms^

•1

i ''^'^.

CAPTAIN GEORGE VANDERBIL.
Co L

1803 BREAKING HORSES AND BONES. . 33

the south, and a spring of water on the hillside above furnished an
abundance of water for both man and beast.

Tlio breaking of the green horses to the saddle furnished great
amusement to the men, and the boastings of some of tUem as to their
superior horsemanship was put to the crucial test. In some cases
the determination to make good their vauntings resulted in bruised
limbs and acliing heads, for there were many high-spirited and some
vicious steeds among the seven hundred and thirty-two that had
l>eeu issued to the Eegiment during August and September. Com-
fortable and commodious stables were provided for the animals on
the grounds, and rapid progress was made by the men in the
mounted drill. The location was too isolated and inaccessible to
draw tlie crowds of sight-seers from the city; but there were occa-
sional visits from notables, who usually rode out in their carriages
on the old Bladensburg road and frequently stopped to witness the
dress-parades. Among the number who thus paid the Eegiment a
visit was the President and Secretary Seward, who witnessed the pa-
rade from their open carriage with evident interest and satisfaction.

The bo3-s, who now appeared to realize that they were on the eve
c'f that "active field service " for which they had been longing and
}H'titioiiing, endeavored to make the best of the time allowed them
for inspecting the beauty and grandeur of the nation's capital, prior
to being transferred to hostile territory. The Capitol and other
public buildings, the navy-yard, and in fact every place that tempted
the curiosity, were visited.

Since leaving the Elmira rendezvous the Regiment had by each
successive m.ove approached nearer to the seat of war, and now, that
it was fully equipped and mounted, the men were in daily expecta-
tion of marching orders that would take them into the presence of
the enemy. But just at this time it was decided to add another
battalion to the Regiment, and a detail for recruiting it was made,
as follows :

Headquarters Provisional Brigade,

Washington, August 23, 1802.
Special Orders No. 50.

The following-named ofTicers. non-commissioned otTicers, and men, are detailed
to recruit for the Tenth New York Volunteer Cavalry, in accordance ^vith Gen-
eral Orders from the War Department, No. 88. of 18G2 :

1st Lieutenant Alvah D. Waters. Company G, Tenth Xew York Cavalry.

2d Lieutenant George Vanderbilt, Company H, Tenth New York Cavalry.

Sergeant Walter K. Perry, Company A, Tenth Xew York Cavalry.

Sergeant Marshall R. Woodruff, Company B, Tenth Xew York Cavalrv.
3

34 HISTORY OF THE TENTH IlEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1802

Sergeant Edgar Hinckley, Company C, Tentli Xew Y-^rk Cavalry.
Corporal James Matthews, Comj)any 1), Tenth New York Cavahy.
Sergeant T. \V. Johnson, Company E, Tenth New York Cavalry.
Sergeant D. H. Binkley, Company F, Tenth New York Cavalry.
Sergeant B. B. Porter, Company G, Tenth New York Cavalry.
Sergeant C. E. Pratt, Company H, Tenth New York Cavalry.
By order of Brigadier-General Casey :

E. Walter West, Lieuttimnt and Aide-de-Camp.
To Colonel John C. Lemmox, Tenth JVew York Cavalry.

To this order the name of Sergeant-Major X. I). Presto-u was
afterward added.

This detachment, under tlie command of I.ioutenant ^Mvali D.
"Waters, proceeded to the State of Xevv York and at once entered
upon the duties of recruiting four full companies, oUices being opened
for the purpose in diiferent parts of the State, A\ith Elmira as the
general rendezvous. Company I — one liundred strong — under Cap-
tain David Getman, Jr., was organized at the rendezvous on the 21st
of September, and was mustered into service on 11 le 30th of October.
The men comprising this company were recruited in Broadalbin,
Mayfield, Perth, Johnstown, Northampton, Brooklyn, and Gahvay, in
Fulton County.

Company K, Captain Wheaton Loomis, follovv-ed on tlie 30th of
the same month, with one hundred men, and was mustered in on the
29th of October. It was raised in Oxford, Crcene, Coventry, Sher-
burne, McDonough, Unadilla, Preston, Guilford, and Pliaisalia, in
Chenango County.

Captain Alvah D. AVaters's company, L, was organized on the 2-ith
of October, and mustered into service on the 2!nh of the same month.
Its members came from Cortland, Taylor, SoIchk Virgil, Freetown,
Homer, and Marathon, in Cortland C(junty ; l-ev,iston and Wheat-
field, in Niagara County; P>uir:ilo, Collin.^ and Aurora, ij) Erie
County; Otto and Persia, in Cattaraugus County; AVatkins, in
Schtiyler County; Lyons, in AVavne County; Pitcher, in Chenango
County; Big Flats, in Sullivan County; and Fhnira, in Cliernung
County.

Company ]\[ was orgtuiized in Xovoinber, and mustered into serv-
ice in the field in Xovember and December, 1802, and .January,
18G3. Its membersliip was drawn from Cortland, Freetown, Virgil,
Cuyler, Lapeer, and Gernmn, in Cortland CouTity; Buffalo, in Erie
County; Niagara Falls, in Nia'j.ira County; We^t Sparta, in Living-
ston County; Otto, in Catturangus County; arid Oxford and Pitcher,
in Chenansro Conntv.

H*C2

THE ROSTER OF THIRD BATTALION.

The following is a complete roster of the four companies com-
prising the Third Battalion, as mustered :

C03IFANY L

1764832

Captain, David Getman, Jr.
Id Lieutenant^ Stephen Dennie, ^d Lieutenant, Charles H. HllL

Horatio 11. Boyd (Is f),
A>ii Ca[>ron (Q. J/.).
Jolui W. Inness (Com.).

Sergeants.
John "W. Abernethy.
Nicholas D. Case.
David N. Haines.

Dorwin J. Close.
Jacob C. Case.

C;h»"*ter L. Berry.
H. iiry Ik'tts.
Au{?u»tus M. Brown.

Corporals
Hosea Davis, Jr.
Darius S. Orton.
Peter Phillips.

Abram H. Van Dyke.
Harvey Becker.

lit nry A. Piper, Teamster.
Diiniol Satterlee, Teamster,
Charles Thayer, Farrier.

Harvey A. Lane, Farrier.
George Riddle, Saddler.
James L. Mercer, Wagoner.

Barlet, Charles S.
Ik'iison, Charles.
Blowers, Abram H.
Blowers, Eli as.
Blowers, John.
Blowers, William H.
B'jhannon, John T.
Brig;:^?, William R.
Browor, Christopher.
Brower, William.
Brown, James H.
Brown, Nathaniel W.
Clo^^e, George W.
Clute, John W.
Crouch, Thomas T.
Cuming, Philip.
<'unnng, Thomas.
T'avis. George.
D;iy, Julius B.
1>VL', Asa.
Hirle, James.
1'Vrgu.son, George D.
lVr-u<on, Seneca.

Privates.
Fice, Ansel.
Forbes, Daniel C.
Forbes, Francis.
Foster, William.
Fox, Hollis.
Fox, Miner.
Fox, Norman R.
Freeman, Alva.
Goodermost, William A.
Hager, William D,
Hall, Albert.
Hall, James.
Hall, John.
Hammond, John.
Handy, John.
Honeywell, Joseph W.
Jones, William H.
Laird, James A.
Lee, Thomas.
Lepper, Jacob.
Marlet, John.
Mosher, Ephraim.
McCabe, Barney.

McClary, Hiram.
McCormick, John.
Murdock, Peter R.
O'Bryan, William.
Patterson, Edward.
Peck, George.
Phillips, Lorenzo,
Reynolds, Jesse..
Reynolds, John.
Rhodes, William P.
Richardson, Daniel.
Richardson, John H.
Richardson, Marcus A.
Sandford, George E.
Sandford, James H.
Sanborn, Joseph A. J. F.
Satterlee, Abram.
Satterlee, Zailock.
Schermerliorn, Daniel W.
Schermerhorn, George W.
Shaw, John.
Smith, George H.
Stoddard, Rawson.

HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1862

Stuart., Gcorgo.
Tatloclc, Thomas B.
Terrell, Andrew J.

Waitc, James H.
Wanils, Williara.
Warner, Martiton.

Wells, James W.
Wescot, Alexander. '
Whitney, Francis R.

COMPANY K.

Captain, Wheaton Loomis.

1st LicuievMrd, Benj. F. Lownsbery

H Lieutenant, Lewis D. Burdick.

Sergeants.

Bronson Bofirdslce {1st). Norman W. Torry.
Wm. 1). Clieever {Q. 21.). Isaac J. Stratton.'
Thos. E. Ciiapman (Com.). Thomas C. Pettis.

Adam C. Tallman.
A. Gray Raymond.

Henry B. Griswold.
Frederick A. Hill.
Jothani Woods.

Corporals.

Shelden Bolles.
Patrick Griffin.
William D. Seaman.

William H. Loorais.
Sainuel P. Morse.

Lucius A. Hall, Teamster.
Isaac Cole, Teamster.
William L. Daniels, Farrier.

Henry O. Daniels, Farrier.
Antia Erna, Saddler,
William F. Allen, Wagoner.

Adams, John T.
Arnold, Anions.
Barnes, Nehrmiah.
Beards] ey, Addison.
Benedict, Abijah D.
Booth, Genrge C.
Brooks, Samuel A.
Bunnel, Jamrs M.
Butler, Emory A.
Button, Sylvester.
Cady, V/illiain.
Carliart, George N.
Condran, J(>lin.
Crosljy, Orris.
Crumb, Orson.
Crumb, William P.
Cun^niings, John D.
Dilliube.'k. Oscar S.
Dobson, Frcdt-rick H.
Dolan, James.
Di»\v, Edniony G.
Farley, Patiiok,
Fe*>lev, Jarnf^s.

Privates.
Finch, Charles D.
Fisk, George L.
Gale, Alpheus L.
Haxton, Benjamin.
Holdrege, Charles 11.
Huntley, Charles F.
Ingcrsoll,. Theodore G.
Ingraliam, Andrew.
Ingraham, Austin.
Ireland, Ilonry.
Kuhn. Jacob.
Lamphen, George.
Lami'lu-n, William.
^Marlin, Thomtis W.
3Inrtin, Ad<lisun W.
MiK-s, William A.
Mnak, Harris P.
3b 'ak, Julius.
Mov,v. i:d-nr 1).
Nichuls, A?nl)roso S.
Ni( kt-rson, Edward W.
Nighiiniralo, John W.
O'lvarv, T;rni-!iiv.

Padgett, Charles.
Padgett, John.
Padgett, Rufus.
Padgett, William F.
Palmer, Neliemiah D.
Palmer, Marcus A.
Palmer, Jam.es.
Ray, Charles A.
Raynor, John.
Rekins, Robert.
Robinson, Charles J.
Ros;i, Adrui.
liosa, James.
Rosa, Levi.
Sargent, Alvin D.
Sargent. Tracy A.
Sharp, Nicholas.
Stanley, Monroe.
Tracy," Rosweli \V.
Tyler, Uri F.
Tubbs, Orris P.
Van Ostrand, William.
Vant assail, Lawson.

I'^m

THE ROSTER OF THIRD BATTALION.

Yanf.a««nll, Uri.
V:i!itns>u]!, William.
Wfllmun, Joseph.

Wells, Charles II.
Wells, George W.
Wells, Willard.

Willoughbv, Edgar R.
Woods, William.
Winchester, George A.

coMPA^^r L.

Captain^ Alrah D. Waters.
lit Lieutenant, George Vanderbilt. 2d lAeutenant, Burton B. Porter.

Frrd* rick A. Gee (^O-
Jas-ui L. Reed {Q. M.).
I'niaklin L. King {Corn.).

Orrin C. Dann.
J<.h!i R. Maybury.
Tii'jrniis H. Doolittle.

Sergeants.
Joshua W. Davis.
David H. Rines.
Llewellyn P. Norton.

Corporals.

Ballard Kinney.
John W. Mathews.
Thomas K. Ashton.

Andrew J. Lyman.
Royal Miller.

Charles E. Blauvelt.
Walter H. Angel.

Abrara G. Van Ilozen, Teamster.
Waller Green, Teamster.
Li'vi 1>. Ruddock, Fatner.

William Law, Farrier.
Kirtland Herrick. Saddler.
John Traver, Wagoner,

Avery, Samuel R.
Aibro, David J.
Albro, Ezra, J.
Aibro, George W.
AU)ro, Philan R.
Arnold, John.
Bal.KL'ock, j\[yron.
Bacon, James M.
Bacon, Lester.
Bt^aumont, George P.
Bouumont, William.
Btt'be, ]\[ordaunt M.
Bennett, Thomas.
Bliss, Alonzo O.
Brown, Asa L.
Brown, Daniel.
B>rown. James B.
Brown, Milford M.
Ciiiieott, Lewis.
Ciark, George W.
Cnbl,, William,
Cell. urn, Eugene A.
Cowhin, Edward.

Privates.
Craft, Jackson.
Dexter, Clark L.
Dexter, Bela A.
Edwards, David, Jr.
Egbertson, Orange.
Ellsworth, Edman.
EUwood, George W.
Faritor, John.
Fougerty, John.
Frye, Joel E.
Gard, Samuel D.
Ginn, Andrew.
Hartman, Robert.
Hicks, Horatio G.
Hinman, John W.
Homer, Cortland II.
Kinney, Chester E.
Lane, Samuel M.
Madolo, John J.
Mathews, Joseph F.
Matteson, Justus G.
Morell, Samuel D.
Morgan, John.

Morse, William P.
Newcomb, Franklin T.
Ostrander, Silas.
Overacker, James S.
Parker, Edward M.
Parsiow, Uriah.
Patchin, Edward A.
Pearsons, Kimble..
Phelps, Cicero C.
Phillips, Romanzo M.
Reynolds, Andrew E.
Richardson, Jonathan.
Robertson, Charles W.
Robertson, Solomon.
Rockwell. Garrett P.
Rourke, Peter.
Rudd, George W.
Sergent, John.
Sessions, Charles C.
Thurston, Henry C.
Tillinghast, Frederick A.
Van Brocklin, Eric 0.
Wanzo, lienrv..

HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1SG2

Warfiold, Dennis B.
Warner, Daniel.
Warner, Joseph B.

Washburn, Nelson.
Watson, Robert.
Wiles. Clifton W.

Wolciitt, John.
Wood, Neville P.
Wright, Elias.

COJIFA^^Y Jl.

Captain, John G. Pierce.
1st Lieutenant, Thomas W. Johnson. 2d Lieutenant, James Matthews.

George H. Orcutt {1st).
Melvin D. Peck ( Q. il/.).

Charles Fay.
Edwin S. Rowley.
William B. Seacord.

Sergeants.
Jonath'n S.Webster (Com.). Edgar D. Phillips.
John A. Freer. Herman Stiles.

Corporals.
James Taylor
George A. Thompson.
Warren Tabor.

Andrew J. Van Epps.
Charles Watson.

Adam Michael, Saddler.

Baker, William H.
Barber, John.
Bloom, John.
Bouton, Edward.
Bowsers, Thomas.
Brown, Horace.
Cleveland, Charles.
Corey, Robert.
Curtis, Thomas.
Davis, John.
Davis, John H.
Davis, Lafayette.
Davis, Samuel.
Dennis, Charles.
Dygert, James.
Eccleston, John.
Edwards, George D.
Edwards. Richard H.
Ellen, James.
Ellsworth, John.
Evans, John J.
Fodius, John.
Fields, William I.
Fitzgerald, Patrick.
Flynn, Morgan A.
Ford, Goofire.

Privates.
Gaylord, Lewis P.
Gorman, Patrick.
Graham, Thomas.
Green, John H.
Grovenor, Silas C.
Hill, William.
Holmes, Farley.
Hulin, James.
Johnson, James,
Jones, Samuel.
Kenyon, Bradford C.
King, Alexander.
Klink, Charles U.
Larry, James.
Lavine, Thomas.
Lavery, Barney.
Leach, John L.
Lincoln, Joel S.
Lowrcy, George W.
Macoraber, Benedict S.
Maddox, George,
Mahany, Micha.l.
Mattison. Daniel.
Maxon, William.
McCann. Alexander.
McCann, TlKunas.

Meenan, Christopher.
Moore, Samuel,
^lorrissey, John.
Muller, Charles.
Murray, John.
Page, John.
Parker, Hiram C.
Parsons, Augustus N.
Patterson, William A.
Phelps, William E.
Phillips, Eliphalet.
Rice, Charles.
Rudd, Allen F.
Russel, James.
Ryan, James.
Shaver, George.
Smith, George.
Smith, Oliver L.
Spencer, J. Jay.
.Siilcs, Herman.
Stiihvell John.
Stimpson, William.
Summers, Henry.
Telle, Guillamene.
Thomas, John.
Tompkins. William.

I-\>*«..<»p

■^ ^

,\-

^^'

CAPTAIN AARON T. BUSS,
Co. D.

ISG'3 JOKNIXG THE REGIMENT AT BROOKS'S STATION. 39

Tuck.r, .T'.t'^.n. Walkor, Thomas. Willson, James.

Waldron, Jiieob W. Williams, Daniel. Woods, John.

Williams, James.

Wliilo in rendezvous at Elmira the men received good food and
wore provided with comfortable quarters. The usual guard duty,
drilliixj", r.oijeing camp, etc., were maintained.

Clothini; w:is issued to all the companies on the 25th of October,
and on tlie evening of the 30tli Companies I, K, and L left the El-
inini rc:idr'ZVous for Washington, where a brief stop was made, and
tlio j.m-n. y continued to Alexandria, arriving there on the 2d of
XovenilHT. Here the boys were given soldiers' fare — i. e., ancient
hard-til' -k ar.d inhabited pork — and assigned soft Virginia soil as
beds, wirli a single blanket for covering. Very little complaint was
heimi, hu\> over, except against the very active pork, and this a hu-
mane caf!i}> commander caused to be taken away and good meat issued
in its place. The men veteranized rapidly and were soon inured to
the usiial rough side of the soldier's life.

On tbe 1st of December these three companies recrossed the Poto-
mac, and receiving their horses in Washington, rode them back to
cam]) Tiear Alexandria bare-back. An eiglit-mile ride on the ridge-
pole o'l a skeleton quadruped naturally produced more blisters than
cnthrisia-ni. None of the boys expressed a desire for any more free
excursions of that kind.

Leaving Alexandria on the 2d of December, Companies I, K, and
h joincti the Regiment on the 5th at Brooks's Station, where they
found more company than comfort. A severe snow-storm was pre-
vailing id tlie time of their arrival, and being without adequate pro-
tection, inn eh suffering prevailed. The weather continued cold and
raw for several days, with considerable snow. It was a rather rough
beginning for the new battalion, but the men endured it all with
comnieiid;i!)le fortitude.

We will now leave the eleven comj^anies at Brooks's Station and
return to the camp near Bladensburg, where the detail left the Eegi-
ment to recruit for the Third Battalion.

By an act of Congress, battalion adjutants, quartermasters and
commissaries had been dispensed with. The services of Lieutenants
Fitts and Lemmon being no longer required, one was mustered out
and the other resigned, before the regiment entered Virginia.*

* Llciiton.-int Fitts aft»?r\vard entered the One TTumlred and Fourteenth New-
York Volunteers and rose to the rank of major, distinguishing himself on several
ocvir-ion?.

^0 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1862

CHAPTER IIL

FIRST VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN — FROM SECOND BULL RUN TO
FREDERICKSBURG.

RIOR to the second battle of Bull Rim,
four companies of the Tenth — A, B, D,
and E, under Major Avery — were or-
dered to Falls Church, Ya. An addi-
— tional issue of horses had been received
on the 2Gth of iVugust, completing the
regimental mount. Leaving the camp
at Bladensburg, the detachment marched
through clouds of dust until the Long Bridge
was reached, when a high wind nearly approaching a hurricane
came up, accompanied by torrents of rain, which drenched the men
to the skin. It was a rough introduction to their future field of
operations, a fair index to the service to follow. The detachment
arrived at Falls Church in the evening and went into bivouac, the
horses remaining under saddle.

The second battle of Bull Run was fought on the 29th and 30th
of August. General Pope was compelled to withdraw his army from
the scene of the conflict. Considerable excitement and confusion in
and about Washington followed. All tlie available troops in the de-
partment were sent forward as rapidly as possible. Two companies
more of the Tenth — C and F, under command of ^lajor Kemper —
were ordered to Fort Whipple, leaving but two companies, G and H,
in camp at Bladensburg under command of Colonel Lenimon.

The morning following the arrival of Major Avery's detachment
at Falls Church, the 29th, a detail of sixty men was ordered from it by
General J. D. Cox to make a reconnaissance toward the scene of the
conflict then raging between the two armies. The party proceeded
as far as the heights of Centreville, and returned at nightfall without
having encouTitered anything of a hostile nature.

At this time there were great and pressing demands for cavalry for picket and
scouting service. The only troops available was the BattaHon of the Tenth New

ieG3 CAPTAIN riiATT'S COM^IAND TAKEN PinSONEllS. 41

Vork Cavalry, liiiilor M.ijor Avery, one squadron of which was at Upton Hill, and
l,h*^ oilier, undor Captain Pratt, picketing the road from Falls Church to Fairfax
C«iurt-1 louse.*

(Joneral Cox onlorcci a scouting pn,rty to bo sent, on the night of
Angu>l oLst to Drainesville, and thence across the Little Pike, noar
Chant iPiV, to Centre ville. Captain Pratt with about thirty men was
dispatched on tliis duty. The night was very dark. When near
Ccntrevillo the party was halted, aiid in obedience to the challenge
Orderly Sergeant ]\[itchell was sent forward. He was immediately
s\ iz.'d l)y t!ie cTiemy, for such they proved to be, and ordered under
thrr-ats of immediate death to announce them as friends and to call
on the captain to come forward -with liis command. UnsuspectiTig,
Cu plain Pratt marched his little band forward and was immediately
Hurrouuded by a large force and compelled to surrender. As soon as
Orderly Sergeant I\Iitchell had served their p)urpose he was sent to
the rear with a mounted guard on each side. "W^hen sufficiently re-
moved from tliu rest of the command to warrant the belief that he
coulii make his escape, Mitchell suddenly drew a large dirk which he
had kt'pt concealed and killed both the guards by plunging it into
llrst one and then the other, and putting spurs to his horse, entered
the woods, where he remained secreted till morning, when he made
Ins way into the Union lines and reported the capture of the entire
command.!

The enlisted men — three sergeants, one cor})oral, and nine men
from Company A and about an equal number from other com-
panies of the Ilegiment — were paroled and returned to camp the
next day, the Confederates retaining their horses and arms.
The commission: ed ofilcers, one captain and one lieutenant, were
held as prisoners, but they, too, were paroled next day. The
enlisted men were sent to Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md. They
were all exchanged and rejoined the Eegiment before the close of
the year.

The following is an extract from a letter written by Captain Pratt
and addressed to the historian some years ago :

It was very dark when I reached the pike, where I fell in with a large body of
rt Ind cavalry and became their guest. A squadron of the Second Regular Cavalry

* MeClellan's book, p. oOO.

f Although somewhat lawless, Sergeant Mitchell was a brave man. He fre-
'pi* iitly absented himself from his company and wandered outside the linos, gen-
• rally reporting on his return thrilling encounters with Confederate scouts and

42 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGDJENT OF CAVALRY. 1862

was also cnptured not far from the same place which is mentioned in jMcClellan's
book on page 525. The next afternoon the battle of Chantilly was fought, and
it was during the day and before the battle that I saw Lee's army as it moved
along the road, and had Generals Jackson, Longstreet, and Ewell pointed out to
me. 1 also saw General Lee and other officers dismount in front of a house,
where they appeared to be stopping. I recollect General Lee's hand was done up
in a white cloth, as though he had been injured * The next day I was taken to
view the body of General Phil Kearny, who was killed the night before.

The following is General Cox's report of the capture :

Thirty men of the Tenth New York Cavalry, under Captain Pratt, took the
direct road to Centreville. Of this party a sergeant is the only man who has as
yet returned. He reports that about eight o'clock in the evening, when they
were within about three miles of Centreville, they were challenged by a picket.
He was sent forward to answer the challenge. The picket pretended to belong to
the First Pennsylvania Cavalry till he advanced to them, when they surrounded
him and took him prisoner. He subsequently made his escape from the guards,
and after wandering all night has just returned to camp.

J. D. Cox, Brigadkr-General Cunnnanding,

September 1, 1862.

The rehel report of the capture is given in the following lan-

On the 31st of August the Brigade went with General Stuart on a scout to
Chantilly, picking up two or three hundred prisoners. A portion of the Twelfth
Virginia Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Burk, captured one company of the
Tenth New York Cavalry without firing a gun.

Thomas T. Munford, Colonel Second Virginia Cavalry.

SepUmher 1, 1862.

On the 14th of September, ten men under command of Sergeant
Edson of Company D, made a reconnaissance in the direction of
Leesburg, going beyond Goose Creek without encountering the
enemy.

The first exchange of courtesies the Regiment had with the rebels
was at Leesburg on the 17th of September, 18G2. Lieutenant-Colonel
Kilpatrick, of the Harris Light Cavalry, with his own regiment and
three companies of the Tenth under ^lajor Avery, left Fort Buffalo,

* As we marched along I noticed a group of olTicers dismounted and standing
upon a little eminence at the roadside. Among them was General Lee. . . . He
had recently had a fall from his horse, caused by the stumbling of tlie animal,
and had badly sprained both wrists. They were now done up in splints, which,
covering the hands, were bound around with white cloths. — (K [guard Towxs-
HEN'D DoDSOx, formcrhj sergeant-major of the Stuart Horse Artillery, in Phila-
delphia Weekly Times, March 8, ISS4.)

lj<C3 A GALLANT CHARGE. 43

near Upton's Hill, on the IGth clay of September, for Leesburg.
Lieutenant Weed, who had been ill in Washington, arrived in camp
the day after the expedition left, and at once followed.

Coming up with the Kegiment, he took command of one squadron,
Captain Bliss commanding the other. On reaching Leesburg, the
latter officer with his squadron was sent forward into the town to
ascertain whether or no there was any one at home to receive com-
pany, and if he was successful in finding them, to fall back and so
induce them to come out. AYhen Bliss deployed they seemed an-
noyed and came at him viciously. He retired before them until they
came in range of our battery, when bang ! bang ! went the guns, and
several shells were landed in their midst. Lieutenant Weed was or-
dered to charge and, as the boys went forward with a cheer, they saw
the rebel cavalry massed in the streets. Kilpatrick, taking in the
excitement of the occasion, had started forward when the charge was
made.

As the command reached a little knoll, giving the boys a good
view of the enemy, Kilpatrick rose in his stirrups and exclaimed :
" See the rascals ! Go for 'em, boys ! " and, with these words ringing
in their ears, the boys went for 'em. The rebels fired a few shots and
broke, followed closely by Weed and his men through and out of the
town. As they drove the cavalry before them, a force of infantry
from behind a fence on their flank opened fire, wounding seven and
capturing one man. Lieutenant Weed seized a carriage w^iich was
just leaving town, containing " Massa and Missus," as the old darky
said, and into this he had four of the wounded placed and taken
back, the others being able to get away without help. A number of
arms were destroyed and a quantity of ammunition and a fine large
Confederate flag fell into our hands.

In addition to the captured and wounded from the Tenth, al-
ready mentioned, the charging party lost one horse killed and fifteen
'Wounded. Among several close calls experienced the poncho of
Sergeant H. E. Hayes, of Company A, rolled and strapped to the
front of his saddle, was pierced by a rebel bullet. There w^ere a
large number of the enemy's w^ounded and sick lying in extemporized
hospitals about the town, but they were left undisturbed.

Of this engagement Corporal E. W. Stark writes as follovrs :

When near Leesburg we were ordered to support a battery. I think there were
but two companies, Company A being one. After a few shells had been thrown
among the rebels we were ordered to charge through the town. I was in second
nink. As we went throiiirh the town, mv horse being a good runner, I in some man-

44 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMKN'T OF CAVALRY. 18G2

ner became mixed up in the front rank ; in fact, I g'.'t .-ome ways alioofl of the rest
of the boys, and commenced firing. ]\ly horse act.n.1 .bO j was C(;mj)eil(Hl to turn
him about to prevent beinj? carried Into tlie niidsl of the rebels, who wcru strung
across the road. The balance of onr command ha.l liaUed and v crc p!>uring in a
rapid, well-directed fire, which was being reln'-ned with spirit by tbe rebels.
Lieutenant Weed, who was in ominand, ordered rs to fall back. Tlicre was a
good board fence on one side of the street and thi; rebels had tak-.u position be-
hind it, and, as they were perfectly ])rotected, we wvrn rompelled to iclirc from the
terrible fire we were subjected to. It was a mir.icu'.ous thing thai more of our
men were not hit, as we were directly abreast and close to them, am] llK-y had but
to take deliberate aim at us through the cracks in iJie fence. As wo were falling
back I received a flesh-wound in the arm, ne;ir tb.e elbow. JNly horse was shot
twice, but neither wound disabled him. I think Wiltiain Wilbur ^^ as wounded in
the shoulder. Joe Cook, our bugler, had his horse killed, and as the liorse went
down Cook was caught under him and fell into too hands of the rehels. Cook
had a fine live turkey strapped to his saddle. Bplm; i- and gobbler Mere both gath-
ered in. I do not recollect who v.-as vroundcd besides tliose mentioned. Xo at-
tempt was made to follow us.

Sergeant W. W. Williams, of Compiniy D, after payiiig a hand-
some tribute to Sergeant Traman 0. Mhite (afterward lieutenant),
says that on the way to Leci^burg the coinninnd lialted at Di-ainesville
and sent out scouting parties, and while waiting there >^orne one of
the men found a beautiful blooded seal-brov.n stallion, silver mane
and tail, which appeared to be much admii od by Colonel Kiipatrick.
He says when the detachment reached LocsljiiriT, i)art of the command
took one street and part another, and wIicti tiiey had got fairly into
the town the rebels opened a brisk fire on ihem from the buildings,
from behind fences, etc., and some one ga^o tlio order to left about
wheel, wdiich was done Iti good order, ]vA vrry lively. Sergeant W.
J. Kobb came rushing b;ick, brandishlit;; a ro\>:dver, ami threatened
to shoot the men if they aiioTiipted furth;r skuddaddling ! On mat-
ters being explained, Robb joined in tlie fall'?it: back.

When returning to camp at Upton's 11 ill, an old lady made a
piteous complaint to Oolonol Kiipatrick tliat liis men liad taken
everything she had for hcrseif and daiiL'-iitor to live on. The boys
were all pretty well encumbered witli the '' iVe<>v\-ill oU'eriiigs" of the
citizens along the route, and Kiljuitriek h ft an aide at the old lady's
gate to solicit contributions from then\. 'i'lie result was the lady
was presented with poultry and provisions sutbcient to su})plva good-
sized division of hungry Yankees. *^]M'oeiy ye have received, freely
give," Tlie Bible injunction v,as litendiy and liberally followed.

The following are tlie re]>orts of Colonel Davies, of the Leesburg

1863 COMPOSITION OF BAYARD'S BRIGADE. 45

Upton Hill, Va., September IS, 18*32.
Lieutenant-Colonel McKeever :

I have a message from the expedition I sent out. Will bo back to-night.
They found at Leesburg one regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry,
which they drove out of the town after a sharp action, in which the enemy's loss
was considerable. One flag and a number of prisoners were taken. Our loss was
but slight. The Tenth New York Cavalry behaved very gallantly.

J. M. Da VIES, Colonel Commanding Brigade.

Upton Hill, Va., September 19, 18G2.
Colonel Kilpatrick gives great credit to the admirable manner in which our
guns were served, and the conduct of the Tenth New York Cavalry, which twice
charged through the town.

J. M. Davies, Colonel Commanding Brigade.

In October the following was the composition of the brigade com-
manded by Brigadier-General George D. Bayard :

First Pennsylvania Cavalry, Colonel Owen Jones.

Tenth New York Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel William Irvine.

Second New York Cavalry, Major H. E. Davies, Jr.

First New Jersey Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Karge.

Battery C, Third United States Artillery, Captain H. G. Gibson.

These regiments, although not serving together in the same brig-
ade to the close of the war, were closely allied, and always main-
tained a close feeling of friendship for one another.

The endeavor to secure the most and best of the products of the
country, such as hams, poultry, etc., caused the boys to resort to every
artifice to obtain them. To such an extent had the " hen-roost raids "
been carried at one time, that it called forth the most stringent orders
forbidding their continuance. Colonel Kilpatrick charged the Tenth
New York with being an aggregation of chicken-thieves, alleging that
in nearly every case the sufferers from these depredations reported the
gentlemen who sought introductions to their poultry as wearing caps
with the figures " 10 " on them. Soon after, the Ilegiment being in line,
preparatory to moving, Colonel Irvine called it to attention, and com-
manded every man having the figures " 10 " on his hat to take tliem oif,
and warned them that any one of them thereafter found with figures or
other evidence of regimental identity on their persons would be pun-
ished. A day or two later he sent out scouting ]oarties. witli orders
to bring in any men found who had the figures 10 on their hats. A
good crop of " Tenth Xew York men " were brought in, ail loaded
with " farm products," but every man, on investigation, proved to be-
long to tlu) ILirris Liglit. Coh>nel Irvine had them mnrclied to

46 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1862

Colonel Kilpatrick's headquarters, and said to him : " Here, Colonel,
are some of those Tenth Xew York thieves ; do with them as you
please. You may also have the figures on their hats, as I have no
further use for them; my men dun't wear them." Colonel Irvine
was invited to sample some of Kili)atrick's cereal distillate, while the
men were ordered to be placed in arrest. That was probably the last
of it. Kilpatrick admired too much such enterprise to punish the
men.

Bayard's brigade took the lead in the advance of the Army of the
Potomac to the Rappahannock River. The Tenth broke camp at
Centreville on the 2d of November and reached Rappahannock Sta-
tion on the 7th, where it went into camp. The route was via Aldie,
Thoroughfare Gap, Salem, and Warrenton. Skirmishing with the
enemy's cavalry was continued nearly all the way. Iso large bodies
of Confederates were encountered, however.

As the Regiment went into camp one dreary, damp night, while
on this move, Joseph M. Bailey, of Company G, who was a hospital
attendant, was nowhere to be found. He was wanted, and the hos-
pital steward declared the fact u\ stentorian tones. " Joe Bailey ! "
was called for, loud and long. Some of the boys in the Regiment
repeated the cry; the demand for Bailey increased, until the appeal
reached adjoining camps ; nor did the final return of the truant quell
the rising tumult ! If any of the cavalry boys of Bayard's brigade
caught a nap that night, it was between the refrains of "Joe Bailey"
with which the air was heavily laden. Xext morning Joe Bailey was
up early. He heard his name repeated on every side. It swept
through the camps like a whirlwind; it invaded the infantry camps,
stole silently out to the picket-line; ran the guard, and entered the
enemy's camps. Like Virginia mud, " Joe Bailey " was everywhere.
When on the march, if the cavalry num became weary and began to
show symptoms of fatigue, new life was imparled by some one crying
out, " Joe Bailey ! " The tired dough-boy would give his knapsack
an extra hunch, and summon all his strength to respond, "Joe
Bailey ! "

While the Regiment was lyiucr near "Warrenton Major Avery was
taken quite sick, and souglit a place of quiet among the citizens of
that place. In after-years he oitt-n referrc*! to the kind treatment he
received from a family liviu'j: there, who pnnidvd him quarters and
ministered to him in ]ii;s sicknos-^. lf<? never heard from them after
the close of the war. In the hope that it might find its way into
the hands of some surviving njember of the familv, the historian

i^m A lettj:r from 3[ajor avery's benefactress. 47

a«Mre-<so(l a letter to the gentleman whose name he had frequently
ho:ird the >fujor mention, and was pleased to receive the following in
nply :

Warrenton, Va., January 21, 1890.
y. I>. Prkstox, Esq., FMladelpliia, Pa.

My 1)i:ar Sir: As ray husband has been quite sick since the receipt of your
h'tter of the 17th instant, I will endeavor to answer your inquiries re<;arding
Colonel Avery, wlioni I remember with the greatest kindness and pleasure.

I distinctly remember the morning of November, 1802, when our quiet break-
t&^i wskS interrupted by a detachment of Union soldiers, bearing a sick officer, and
dtumyidiiu) admittance and accojnmodations in my home.

Tho otlicer apologized for the necessity of intruding, and explained. that he had
trii^l several other houses and had been refused admittance, and as he was too ill
to rf^main in camp he wa^ compelled to trespass thus upon us. The weather was
th«*n very cold, and every room having a fireplace was occupied, and I saw that
Iio wjis too sick to be put in a room without fire ; but my father-in-law, then an
old gentleman, said he would share his room with him, which offer was accepted.
The next morning I was passing his door ; he called and asked if I would come
in, that he wished to speak to me. He then again expressed his regrets for tho
ntM:essity of having to be an unwelcome guest, and said that his presence in ray
hou.se would l)e a protection to me and my property ; that he would be no expense
or trouble to me ; that his orderly would attend him, and do his cooking, etc.
His considerate manner proclaimed the gentleman, and from that time until he
left I did wluit I could for him. His illness developed into typhoid fever, and he
was very sick. He had been with us about three weeks when one morning we
h'^ard tliat our troops were en route for Warrenton, and would be in the town in
a few hours. We at once told Colonel Avery, so that he could make his escape,
which he did.

We then heard nothing of him for about eighteen months. At this time some
of the Black Horse Cavalry had fired on the Union soldiers who were stationed
about in the vicinity of Warrenton, and it was thought the firing was done by the
ciiize)is. This infuriated the enemy, and they threatened to come into Warren-
ton and liang ten of the most prominent citizens. One morning, during this
reign of terror, I was in my garden, when ray gardener looked up and saw a body
of cavalry coming at full speed into the town. He said : " Run in de house, Miss
Julia; de Yankees is comin', su' nuiri" I acted upon his suggestion without
delay. Much to my dismay, the troops passed all the other houses, and dashed
up to my front gate, and dismounted. Of course my first thought was that ray
husband was to be the first victim, so I told him he should not go to the front
door, but that I would. There I met a stout, fine-looking oificer, in full uniform,
who raised his hat most courteously, and with a merry twinkle in his eye said,
" I^Irs. James, don't you know me 7" then I recognized Colonel Avery. He con-
tinued: '• I have come on no miseiiievous errand, but am encamped at the Junc-
tion, and have just run up to bring you some things winch I thought might bo
ncfoptable at this time." He then ordered his men to unload the mule, and I
found myself tho possessor of some real coffee, sugar, salt, etc. We spent a plc;is-
ant hour or two together, and then he returned to camp at Warrenton Junction.

We next heard of him at Rappahannock Station. While there he and a fel-

48 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 19G2

low-officer came to see us one day, and I invited both to lunch with us, which
they did, and this friend may have been the Mr. Irvine of v.lioni you iurjuire, for
I do not remember his name.

As they bade us good-by, Colonel Avery said, " Mrs. James, we are goin^f to get
to Richmond this time, sure,'' and I said, laughingly, '^ JVcrer, unless you are capt-
ured and taken there I" This was the last we ever saw or heard of him, and wo
would be greatly obliged if you would write us whatever became of him, for we
often, even now, talk of him, and bear him in kindest remembrance.

Very truly yours,

Julia C James.

The Regiment was encamped just east of li;ipj)aliannock Station
the 15th of November, 18G2, when Captain Peck was ordered to le-
port with his company, consisting of sixteen men, to Major Ilarhans,
of the Second New York Cavalry, at Morrisville, for picket duty.
Upon arriving tliere he was sent to United States Ford, on the ]<ap-
pahannock River, where he was directed to remain on picket. He
reached the Gokl Mines, a small settlement a sliort distance iroin tlie
ford, just at sundown, and establislicd his r(?3crve about a Jicdf-milc
from the little handet, in the direction of the river, sending a ser-
geant and two or three men to the river, scouting. Sergeant \V. N.
Harrison and Private John Hicks were sent at tlie same time some
distance in the opposite direction on picket. On the morning of the
16th Captain Peck stationed Sergeant Guy A^ynkoop Avith a corporal
and three men at United States Ford, leaving but nine men on tlie
reserve, including Orderly Sergeant Bonnell and Sergeant Jolm C.
Re}Tiolds. During the forenoon the Captain, witli Sergeant Bonnell,
started in the direction of Fredericksburg on a reconnaissance, taking
Harrison and Hicks along as they came to the point where t]>cy were
stationed. The party returned ;d)out noon, Ihirri.^on and Hicks re-
suming their places on picket. From the time of riio arrival oi' Cap-
tain Peck and his little nartv on tlie ground tliere had been a lordiuo-
of uneasiness, and altliough this reconnaissance developed nothing
new, it did not in the k ust al];iy the anxiety of tlie men. Tliey were
about twelve mik's frcm tlie main reserve at Morrisville, and tlieir
small numbers and the condition of the country invited a visit from
the enemy, who were fully informed ])y the citizens of the exact con-
dition of affairs. Every precN'uition was taken against surjuise, but
with so few men it was im|H)S--:ib]e to successfully resist any sudden
attack of a superior force.

About noon a body ot forty or fifty rebi-ls came charging down upon
Harrison and Hicks. As tliey were ciotlied in ])lue, Harrison at first
sight supposed they ^^■ere a party svut from Mc»rri?villo to relieve Capt;u'n

M^-^^^LL^&mhaMAjnis^t

^m^k^Mi^

CAPTAIN, Co, I.

^^r^ SKIliMISIl AT TI!E GOLD MIXES. 49

I>rck ; but tho " Viii '' aiimonislidd hiiii of liis error, and springing to
lii--* hur><'^ lie mouufccl just as n Soatliorn Goliath in stature rushed
lii-M/n him witli a doTnaud to smTOiider. Harrison declined the invi-
t.-'i^'JU iu;kh'd his hcr^c in the ribs with his spurs, and started for the
rr jtvo. a scruh race followed hetwoen him and his would-be inter-
vi>^vcr, hut iIarriF:f)7i'3 unp: came mvlcr the wire several lengths ahead.
}ll:]^< w'Xi imablo to get to his I:iorsi', iiud was taken prisoner.

Ak voon as Cn]jlain Peck lieard tiie ih'ing, he ordered the men on
rr— rv.:' to fall back to an open field close by, taking a bridle-path
tlir'jU'jii tbe tliicket- Keachin:;- ;". iv^iiewa}^ a stnnd was made, and as
tho rA-'vh came chariring down, clo.-CiY pursuing Harrison, the Com-
l iuy II boys dischargiril their carbines into their ranks, causing a
^S-fCt. bait. The little band coiite.-'.od the ground across the open;
baf. .-"on anotlier ])arfy of thirty or lorty rebels opened fire from the
<'iip-t.»ife direction, forcing them to abandon their. position around an
old huu.-e. Cai)t[iin I'eck then callod out to the men to take care of
thtJu^.dYos as best tliey could, i\v.d lie himself made an attempt to
n^nf'h the woods, to accomplish wliich his horse would be compelled
to I'-nr. a fcjice ; tljis lie obstinately refused to do, and the Captain
i^Vvi horn h\A back, over the fence, just in time to avoid capture. In
ihi: s«'r;ai:ljk' from llio house six of our brave fellows were made pris-
. «»U'r-\ :iniong tlie nuruber being L;insing Bonnell, who received a
frJi^ljtful i>aber-cut across the right side of his face and head, and Joe
I'rvarl-'y, wlio had a slight bulkt-wound. Chet "Wilcox gained the
wo.kis in safety and liastcned to tlie ford to warn Sergeant "Wynkoop
of ]ih <lauger. Sergeants Bonnell and Reynolds, and Privates Loren-
zo Allen and Lemuel Barker ran the gantlet safely, passing through
t-jo :-i'i.> wliere several rebels wu^'c ^ Uitioned, while elo:^e behind them
foil). '.id their pursuers, ''too numerous to mention," calling on them
to surrender and ap])lying to them vile names. Corporal Harrison's
hor-e became unnumageable and carried him into a dense under-
gnjwth, where three or four rebels followed, demanding his surrender
at the point of their fusees. He v\'as marched to Fredericksburg that
night, arriving just after dark, and was lodged in the guard-house
witli ten others of Coijipuiiy U. Xext morning they were taken to
liichniond and placed in Libby Prison, and three or four da^'S later
exelianged and sent to Annapolis.

After safely passing the rebels stationed at the gate, Sergeant
Bonnell ami his three coinpanions went Hying through the little set-
tlement of the Gold ]^Iines, the rel)els " ki-yi-ing " close behind them.
neafhing the junction of the roads where our })icket had been posted,
4

50 HISTORY OF THK TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVA];UY. 1H(>2

they encountered another force of the altogether too-numcr»vr.s eneniy^
but the only course open to tliem was to '• go through " or ilie trying.
It was hot work, but through they went, tlic bullets flying f;i.st, th..-.
boys doing their best to outrun tliem. About twenty of tlie nuineroud
throng continued the pursuing business as the boys s})ed on, w^iili
Morrisville only ten miles away ; but one by one the hoiv-?s of thci'*
pursuers gave out and they abandoned the chase. lieacliing Morris-
ville, Bonnell and his party found the place deserted. Continuing, they
arrived at Rappahannock Station about dusk and reported to General
Bayard. Captain Peck, Sergeant Wynkoop, and others came in earl}
the next morning just as camp was being broken preparatory to a move.
Captain Peck was placed in arrest at once by order of tlie General,
and was not released till about the 1st of January at Camp Bayard.
The following is the report of General Bayard :

Rappaiiaxnock Station, Va..

■ I^ovpmber'ii!)^ 1882. "
The rebel cavalry from Falmouth surprised Captain Peck anJ liis company,
who were sent to picket Richards and United States Fords. A sergeant and four
men have returned ; the Captain also escaped. I will arrest liim for gross care-
lessness when he comes in. Probably some eighteen or twenty mtMi are captured
with their arms and everything.

George D. Pa yard, i5r?*^«f?dVr-6' ',■??/?/•«?.

Lieutenant- Colonel Irvine's report :

Headquarters Tenth New York Cavalry,

Rappahax>.-ock, 2\ove.ml(r 16, 1862.

General: Sergeant Reynolds, of Captain Peek's Company, IT, V\>i \\\i\\i sent
to Morrisville to report to Major Ilarhaus for ];icket duty, luis just come into
camp, and reports that Captain Peck, with fourteca men po.-^red <;t the Gold
Mines, was attacked about 1 p. m. to-day by aliout one huudrixi men in their rear.
Captain Peck rallied his men after being fired on and made a stand, fired his car-
bines, then fell back a few rods. On the rebels advancing. emi)tioil his revolvers.
By that time the p^irty were nearly surrounded, liie Captain's horM: slsot under
him, and they undertook to cut their way through lo the rear. Five of the men
succeeded in domg so and brought away seven horses. Captain Peek escaped into
the woods, and, the Sergeant thinks, succeeded in escaping. The Serge;uit afid
four men were chased and tii*ed on for two miles toward 3Iorrisviile. when the
rebels gave up the chase. Xin(^ men are missing and seven horses. Two horses
were shot, including the Captain's. Whether any men were killed the Sergeant
can not tell, lie has no idea where the reljs came from, but knows that they did
not cross at the ford. Captain Peck's rear-guard was but a litile Wiiy oH and
the attack was a surprise. Your obedient servant.

William Irvine,
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 'Tenth New York Cavalry.

General Bayard.

18«3 INCIDENTS BY SERGEANT COLBURK 51

The same diiy this affair took place the Left Grand Division of
the Annv of the Potomac — Buruside having succeeded McClellan in
the coniniund of the army — commenced breaking camp for the pur-
|M>R» of moving to Fredericksburg. From this time to the battle of
KnHlericksburg the cavalry was engaged in scouting, picketing, guard-
i!)g wagoii-lrains, etc., in broken and isolated detachments.

Wiiile on one of these foraging expeditions, an old farmer, from
wlsoni tlie boys had taken a few hams, etc., demanded payment, and
IJi'Utonant Kobb quieted him with a receipt signed " Q. K. Jones,
cornniaiidiug squad," on the presentation of which to some "general "
tlie coulidiug tiller of the soil expected to receive full compensation
for \m supplies.

Sergeant L. A, Colburn, of Company A, relates some amusing in-
ri«h'nt--, among them the following :

S*»^>n after the Regiment rccached the front I was sent out with a detail to
f r.viTi- f'lr the oflieers. Chickens were plentiful at the tirae, and we soon secured
II. ^M^«U >u}>ply anil started on the return trip, when we came to a place where
tlrre were tiuite a number of fowls and we stopped to increase our stock on hand.
Whili* the Ix.ys were gathering in the chickens, I went to the well to get a drink.
In hfting the bucket I spilled some water on the platform near the door to the
h-'U**., wliich made it rather slippery. The lady of the house, hearing the appeal
fvr ht-Ip from her chickens, came flying out, seized an axe, and with it raised in
th«* air came for me, exclaiming with an oath, "I'll kill one Yankee, anyhow!"
.\« ftiic struck tlio slippery platform I raised my arm to ward ofi the fatal battle-
fts • and at the same time shied one of my feet in the direct line of her march. In
an instiint tliere was considerable female spattered over that platform, the ugly-
^•rkingaxe being transferred to my hands in the acrobatic manceuvre. By the
I line she hud recovered herself and assumed an upright position she concluded
Vrtiik.M'S [mi-t lx>ar a charmed life and retired within her fort, leaving the vicious
ifiiikijjs to defend themselves as best they could.

And here is another from the same source :

J^Tpeant "Tip" McWethy and I were rather privileged characters, presum-
ftbly Ufyiuse we never forgot the ofTicers when we were successful in getting any-
thui;» in our "outings." It was hinted in our presence by some of the officers on
^,'u* <Kn'a?-it>n, just as we were about to go into camp, that nulk would be a mighty
KiT^ thini: f<'r the coffee that they were anticipating the enjoyment of soon. Tip
*'i?S I trathcred up some spare canteens and started cow- ward, over the hiils and
f^r &-XiiS\ Arriving at a farm-house where there were some cows, we found the
b'iy iit.il a^sked her if we could have some milk, to which she modestly replied,
"■ S'>l a cu'-M.-d drop ! " and proceeded to deliver an eloquent lecture on the subject
if vandaiii^jn, subjugation, etc. We assured her that the text was suflicient for
t>i; We hadn't time to remain for the sermon. We complimented her cows, told her
t.';"v vTi-r.. very T^rotty, etc. ; but none of these things seemed to placate her. She

52 HISTORY OF THE TENTH IJEGLMEXT OF CAVALRY. 1862

refused us a dish into which we might pump the lacteal fluid, so I, holding the
canteen in cue hand, essayed with llio otiicr to guide tiic precious fluid from the
cow into the canteen. The woman tnro'.v sticks and stones at the quadruped,
whicli frustrated my cml";ivor?. I toll I Tip I thought we would be compelled to
go into the cellar and get i^ome old milk. *'Xo," said Tip, "we must have fresh
milk. You go and mdlk that cow, jind u" >ho don't stand still 1*11 shoot her," say-
ing which Tip produced his revolver and aimed at tlie cow's head. "Madam,"-
said Tip, "if you ever want to milk th;;i rx'W again don't throw any clubs at her
now; if she stirs, Fii shoot her!" All IJie old lady dared tlirow was furious
glances, but, as these didn't interfere \\)l\\ the iJow of milk, we didn't mind them.

The Tenth was agn in assigned \o Bayard's brigade earl}' in De-
cember, made up as follows : rirst Maine, First Xew Jersey, Second
Kew York, Tenth Xew York, and .First Pennsylvania cavalry regi-
ments, and Independeiit Compaiiy First District of CoUimbia Cav-
ah-y, and Battery C, Third United States Artillery.

At noon ou Wiq Gth of Decem]>cr boots and saddles resounded
through the camp, and soon after tlic entire command was on the
move northward. Foports of the presence of large bodies of rebel
cavalry in the vicinity of Fairfax and Thoroughfare Gap was the
cause of our sudden departure for tliat section. A snow-storm had
set in the day before and was still prevailing, and it was bitter cold
when the command set out ou th(,; march. Tlio sutlering was very
great, in many cases the men being compelled t(j dismount and
march on foot to prevent their feet from freezing. Little or no sleep
was obtained dnring the march, and but scanty opportunity was af-
forded for preparing a cup of ootree. The country was thoroughly
patrolled but nothing of a liostile nature was encountered. The
brigade returned to camp on th!" iuh, the men having been in the
saddle i\\Q, greater ]i:irt of the time U^x Hiree d;iy.s.

While on this nuircii (Jenei'al l>;iyard had established his head-
quarters one very disagreeable nigld, near a house, close by which
was a crib containing a little corn w liich the men v.ore not slow in
discovering, for tm enterprising cavalryman wj!> always on the alert
for food for the faithful animal th;it liad borne lum patiently during
the day. The General vras a strie; disripiinarian. \lx^^ would tolerate
no pilfering or unwarrante<l aju>rt)|;riation.s or destruction of prop-
erty. A guard had been })laced (wi \h(^. crib by r<quest of the lady
of tlie house; but ilie boys ni;idr a'-rusir'on liim, knocking him
down, and each man [)ro'"'ee(hid t'> i-'-^ue to liimsdf all the corn he
could get away v.ith. MeaiiJime I'ne guard had h;isiened to the
General and re])ort< d the state of affairs. Seizirig the saber from his
informant, the Genend, in a gnat stale of exriti-menr, rushed to the

18(12 ON PICKET AGAIN. 53

relief of the besieged crib. The men scattered in every direction, while
the Yonng commander of the brigade paced rapidly up and down in
front of the crib, muttering vengeance on any one who dared molest
the corn. The deposed sentinel stood quietly by, dazed at the vigorous
manner in which a general stood guard. Taking advantage of the
excited condition the General was in, the audacious men crept up
to the back of the crib, took olf a bottom board, and in a few mo-
ments every ear of corn had vanished. A staff officer passing in-
quired of his chief the cause of his excitement, and on being told,
ventured to look at the corn that was so valuable as to require a
brigadier-general to guard it. He saw no corn, but did see the hole
through w^hich it had gone, and reported the fact to the General,
who was for a moment dumfounded ; then handing the guard his
saber again, with injunctions to allow no one to approach the crib, he
hastened to his quarters.

On the evening of the 10th of December the Regiment was or-
dered to the roar of the army for picket and scouting service. The
location was dismal and forlorn — a more than usually hard-looking
spot on the badly scratched and scarred face of " Ole Virginny."
Sergeant Mortimer Spring, of Company D, gives his experience at
this time as follows :

It was on the night of the 11th of December, 1SG2, when the Union army, un-
der General Burnside, was preparing to cross the Rappahannock and give battle
to the rebel army under General Lee. A part of the Tenth was doing duty on the
right and rear of the army, on what was known, I think, as the Dumfries road.
The reserve was about a half-mile back from the picket-line, on a cross-road,
which led to the Dumfries road. Midnight was the time for my relief to go on
duty, and as there had been firing on the right of the line all the early part of
tlie night, the Lieutenant and Sergeant took seven or eight men and went in that
direction, sending me with the remainder of the relief to the left. I had posted
all but two of my men, and was going with them down a hill, the road at that
place being through a dug-out. The bank on either side was as high as my horse's
back, and on each side was a rail fence. An open field was on the left and
dense timber on the right, with a heavy growth of underbrush. We were march-
ing quail-fashion — single file — when, of a sudden, there came from the under-
brush a gruff demand to " surrender." I knew from the noise and rustling that
we were outnumbered by at least two or three to one. I reached for my revolver,
as each particular hair seemed to stand on end. Instantly came the com-
mand, " Hands off that, or I'll blow your d d brains out ! " They had the

dn-p on me, and so, turning to the man nearest me I said, in a low tone, ''Follow
nif." 1 drove the spurs into my horse's side, and I think he jumped fully twenty
feet as he flew down t!ie road. They fired a volley at us, but neither I nor my
hor<e was hit, but the horse behind me was shot through the neck. That changed
ends with him, and the otlier horse of course followed, leaving me alone. The

5i HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C3

boys on ro.ichi!!,;i camp reporlod me killed, wliilc I, in turn, supposed they were
killed. By tlio i.iine I reached the outpost the boys were scrumbling for their
liorses lively. jVi ihe outpost was a building which before tlie war had been used
OS a grocoiy- sicrc. In this buildin,^ the Corporal and one man sat before the fire
Avhile the '.liird '.satched, the trio relieving each other at stated times. We formed
in the road and awaited the approach of the enemy, but they did not come. Sup-
posing n\y c onnades to have been killed, I proposed to the Corporal to let me take
une of his 111' n and go to camp for a relief party, but he objected to remaining,
so I propc^seu tliat he should take one and go, and 1 would remain. To this he
consented, as h'.; could reach camp by going across the open fields. Posting my
one man to prevent being cut off from the open field, I took position in the road,
where it sc'^mcd lo rne I remained three or four hours, when 1 espied a man ap-
proachiiig Iroiri the direction wliere the rebels had fired on us. I got the drop on
the fellow, and allowed him to approach within about ten puces, then it was my
turn to maiTo the cold chills creep over the other fellow, as I shouted, " Halt I who
comes there?" A very complacent, almost meek, "Friend," was responded.
" Advance, frif .id," I commanded, never losing my advantage, but having him
constantly covered. .Approaching almost to the muzzle of my gun, with all the
assurance of an old acquaintance, lie said, " \Vhero are the other boys ?" I said,
"What otiior boys?" "Why, the Company B boys." ♦'What do you know
about the Compiiny B boys?" I queried, still keeping him covered. " Why, weren't
they on this post ? " " Who ore you, and what brought you here ?" I continued.
He replied that ho came with some others, under Lieutenant Jones, from camp,
supposing when they heard the firing that we were all captured, and the Lieuten-
ant had halted his command and sent him to reconnoitre; so that instead of a
reb, as I sup])Osed, he wfis one of the coolest Yanks I ever met.

The lieg-Iinent remained in tliis locality diirincr the battle of
i'redericksburg, scouring the country for marauding and raiding
parties, and picketing the roads in every direction.

The morning of the 10th, Companies L an<] K were detaclied and
ordered — ihc ilvst named to (ieiuTal STnillu (»f tlie J^eft Grand Divis-
ion, whose licvidqiiariers were jicar White-Oak Church at tlie time;
and the latter to General Ivcynolds, commandinsr the First Army
Corps. C;ipt:iin Vandei-bilt describe? in UTapiiic terms his first expe-
rience in escort duty, which i-^ licre given in his own words from a
letter to the liisl'.n'ian some years ago :

1 just want, to say a word about our mandi to tl^e river. Please remember
that my company liad been mu^trr*'d into the si^rvico only about six weeks before
iind had received horses less than a monfii y>rior to this march: and in the issue
we drew cvrrMl'.ing on tlie li-t — w.-tt'rinL'djridles. lariat ropes and pins— in fact
there was noll!in<„' on the priiit-vl li-^l of snpidits tliut we did not get. ."^lanvmen
}<a<i extra liianktts, nice large rriilr-- prr-'^ntt-d V>y ^.;nle fond ux.thor or maiden
aunt (dear soiils 1); salx-'rs a!id I'-'IS*-. t...:cih."r with tlie straps that pass over the
sho'.ilder; carbines and slings; p»o(k< is full of enrtrid-^es; nose-bai^s and extra
liliic bags for carrying oat^; h;;vers;;ek<. canteens, and spurs, some of them of

'*^-r'^m^:^^r;m^m:'^^^

ih-

^•--'1^

^^'JR)i^':5?^

V-.

5 S

a-tu^ ^

1862 BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 55

the Mexican pattern, as large as small windmills, and more in the way than the
spurs on a young rooster, catching in the grass when they walked, gathering up
briers, vines, and weeds, and catching their pants, and in the way generally ;
curry-combs, brushes, ponchos, button-tents, overcoats, frying-pans, cups, coffee-
pots, etc. Now, the old companies had become used to these things and had got
down to light marching condition gradually, had learned how to wear the uni-
form, saber, carbines, etc. ; but my company had hardly time to get into proper
shape when " the general " was sounded, " boots and saddles " blown, and Major
Falls commanded :

" 'Shoun ! 'Air t'- Ouxt ! A-o-u-n-t ! "

Such a rattling, jingling, jerking, scrabbling, cursing, I never before heard.
Green horses — some of them never had been ridden — turned round and round,
backed against each other, jumped up or stood up like trained circus-horses.
Some of the boys had a pile in front, on their saddles, and one in the rear, so high
and heavy it took two men to saddle one horse and two men to help the fellow
into his place. The horses sheered out, going sidewise, pushing the well-disposed
animals out of position, etc. Some of the boys had never rode anything since they
galloped on a hobby-horse, and clasped their legs close together, thus uncon-
sciously sticking the spurs into their horses' sides.

Well, this was the crowd I commanded to mount on the morning I was or-
dered by General Smith to follow him. We got in line near headquarters, and
when he got ready to start he started all over. He left no doubt about his start-
ing! He went like greased lightning! As soon as I could get my breath I
shouted, " By fours, for-d, 'A-r-c-h ! " then immediately, " G-a-l-l-o-p, 'A-r-c-h ! "
and away we went over the hard-frozen ground toward Fredericksburg. In less
than ten minutes Tenth New York Cavalrymen might have been seen on every
hill for two miles rearward. Poor fellows ! I wanted to help them, but the Gen-
eral was " On to Richmond ! " and I hardly dare look back for fear of losing him.
I didn't have the remotest idea where he was going, and didn't know but he was
going to keep it up all day. It was my first Virginia ride as a warrior in the
field. My uneasiness may be imagined. I was wondering what in the mischief I
should say to the General when we halted and none of the company there but me.
He was the first real live general I had seen who was going out to fight. Talk
about the Flying Dutchman ! Blankets slipped from under saddles and hung by
one corner; saddles slid back until they were on the rumps of the horses; others
turned and were on the under side of the animals; horses running and kicking;
tin pans, mess-kettles, patent sheet-iron camp-stoves, the boys had seen advertised
in the illustrated papers and sold by the sutlers at Alexandria — about as useful
as a piano or folding bed — flying through the air ; and all I could do was to give
a hasty glance to the rear and sing out at the top of my voice :

" C-L-o-s-E u-p ! " ■ , •

But they couldn't "close." Poor boys! Their eyes stuck out like those of
maniacs. We went only a few miles, but the boys didn't all get up till noon.

My company was used as orderlies to infantry generals. Pitt Morse was or-
derly for General Russell. One day the General was sitting on his horse with
Morse just behind, when he (Morse) spied a nice round ball (percussion shell) lying
on the ground. lie jumped off and got it. Had no other place to put it, so laid
it on his oats-bag in front, intending to take it honjc when he went ! (Wasn't that

56 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1862

innocence?) The General suddenly turned to give him an order, when his aston-
ished gaze fell upon Morse's shell.

"What in the world have you got there!" shouted the General, laying his
hand threateningly on his revolver. " Get down off that horse and don't you drop
that shell ! Be careful, now. Go and lay it in tliat water, and then report to
your commanding officer ; I don't need you any longer."

" Next morning," Captain Vanderbilt continues, " we saddled at
break of day and started for Richmond via Fredericksburg. We
went into camp some distance north of tlie river, crossing the lower
pontoon bridge the following morning with the infantry and ar-
tillery."

Companies K and L were present with the army at the battle of
Fredericksburg, but neither company was seriously engaged.

On the 13th of December, the brigade commander, Brigadier-
General George D. Bayard, was killed in the battle of Fredericks-
burg. Bates's History of Pennsylvania Volunteers says : " At three
o'clock in the afternoon, when the storm of battle was raging fiercest.
General Bayard, now in command of the whole cavalry force, was
struck by a shell and instantly killed." General Bayard was original-
ly colonel of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, of which David Gardner
was afterward lieutenant-colonel. The latter officer was near the
General at the time he was wounded and gives an account of it, sub-
stantially as follows : The brigade, after crossing on Franklin's pon-
toons, drove the rebels back and established a strong line of videttes.
A dense fog prevailed, which late in the day had risen, thus fairly
disclosing the positions of our troops, which were being vigorously
shelled. An officer of a regular battery near by had invited the Gen-
eral to partake of lunch with him, and on arising from tlic ground
where he had been reclining to accompany the officer, he was struck
by a shell on the upper part of the thigh, shattering the log. He was
immediately removed in an unconscious condition to a house * and
laid upon a bed, and consciousness soon returned. To the question,
" Doctor, what are the chances for life ? " he received the answer,
" There is a chance, General, if you survive the shock of the amputa-
tion." He instantly replied, "I don't want to live, sir, with the leg
gone." He proceeded with deliberation to dispose of his propertv,
making his will and dictating letters, which he signed with liis own
hand. One of these was to the lady to whom he was to have been
married on tlie day he was buried. The preparations for the wed-

* The Bernard house, known as " ^hinsfield.**

PREPARATORY TO GOIXO INTO WINTER QUARTERS.

ihr\'^ \uid been made, and the young hero had liis leave of absence in
hiA jM'ckot, but refused to avail himself of its privilege when ho
Iv-inii'd of tlie ai)proaching battle. He was perfectly calm and col-
1 -ted up to the moment of his death, which he awaited with tlie
r •urajjo of a true soldier.

(hi the death of General Bayard, the brigade which he had so
itK'y led was increased to a division, and Colonel D. McM. Gregg, of
tin' Ki.Ldjth Pennsylvania Cavalry (captain Sixth U. S. Cavalry), was
r*r'*in«»t(.vl brigadier-general of volunteers, with rank from Xovember
*;% 1 >'■.'.', and assigned to its coinmiind.

The Kogiment continued to picket the northern part of Stafford
i'cinuy until about the 20th of December. On the 16th of this
i;H>!ith tlie greater part of the men who were captured near Centre-
ville on the ;U»t of August and paroled, rejoined the Regiment, hav-
h:ir Ux-n duly exchanged. "Wliile picketing here the men made the
nu^r-i of life, living pretty well, and occupying deserted dwellings
lhri»ui:b the country when off duty. Fresh meat and vegetables
w.jv fn'<iuent]y ol)tained from the farmers, which contributed to the
h' ul'.h and avoirdupois of the men.

Ordvrs were received on the 22d of December to be ready to move
the nvxt day; and on the 23d the brigade, now composed of the First
M;*i:u% Second Xew York, and Tenth Kew York regiments of cav-
airy, rt)ninKinded by Colonel Judson Kilpatrick, of the Second Xew
\< rk Cavalry, went into camp near Belle Plain Landing, where it
w:v* d*^ lined to spend the winter months in what came to be known
a^ Cuinp Bayard.

58 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGDIENT OF CAVALRY. 1803

CHAPTER IV.

SPRIXG CAMPAIGN, 1863. — FROM CAMP BAYARD TO BATTLE OF
BRAIS'DY STATIOX.

^"^\^itti>^£^i>^J' DREARY, uninviting spot was that where
'^if^'^'"^''^Sl't'^^1% Bayard's old troopers encamped on the 23d
^\f'^^~'<^:~'i^-^Vi^^-i^^ of December, 18G2. They had become so
.,: Iv. ir^i \ J!„__A5\ accustomed to sudden changes, leaving

l^ml" ' fe^-A!;j^ quarters on which they had spent much
^-i'^^, ■-/■ ^ii^'Xf:^^^^ ^^^01*1 that few did more than make

'•- ^ ff^i^ (;$^i*£i::-> arrangements for present needs. It

" "'^'^""^ can hardly be believed that this place, where

[^■''■^H^n(i^-'—) ^^®y remained for the succeeding three months

and more, was the result of choice. It would
rather appear to have been accidental that the command found
itself fixed in the location where it dismounted amid scrub-oaks and
bushes on the evening of the year 18G2 ; but with assurances that
they were to go into wdnter quarters the boys swung the axe and
used the s^^ade with a vigor that made a bad scar on the face of
Dame Xature in a short time. The wilderness Avas quickly trans-
formed into a miniature city, and as tinu? rolled by, givi ug prom-
ise of permanency, the hastily-constructed mansions were improved
in architectural appearance and home comforts.

The place was christened Camp Bayard in honor of the youthful
commander who had but recently lost his life in battle. It was a
shameful degradation of a chivalrous name, a questionable honor to
a brave and deserving otheer. The place was a wilderness. There
w^as more Virginia to the acre in Camp Bayard than couM be found
in any other part of the State. Hills and vales, scrub-oaks, mud, and
hard times were there blended. The ground was as wrinkled as an
elephant's hide in time of famine ; but it was wonderful how soon
the boys transformed the location into a place of comparative good
looks. The log-liuts had l)een erected with little regard for align-
ment or regularity, but as tune }>assed they were arranged and fixed

■iwiiiaiys»^i^'-.v'^'f'r''ts^

GENERAL D. McM. GREGG.

1SG3 , CAMP SCENES AND INCIDENTS. 59

up so as to present " a line of beauty." Tents had been issued about
tlie time the Eegiment went into camp. These served for roofs.
Even the detestable Virginia mud was brought into use to render the
cabins comfortable, filling the chinks and cracks. The interiors were
in most cases home-like and cozy, and evinced taste in their arrange-
ments. Good cheer was always to be found within.

]\Iajor Avery had a large log-house erected, where a night-school
was held for the instruction of the officers and non-commissioned
ofliccrs. The horses were carefully looked after, the camp rigidly
policed, and every effort put forth by the officers to render the Eegi-
ment eflicient. The trooper who ventured to trot or gallop his horse
was reminded of the indiscretion by his comrades uniting in the
familiar shout, " Walk that horse ! "

]\rany of the bugle-calls were given words in verse by the boys.
"When " feed-call " was sounded, they would unite in singing :

" Come to the stable, while you are able,
And give your horses some corn :
If you don't do it, the Colonel will know it,
And you'll catch h — in the morn ! "

There were a large number of contrabands in camp, chief among
them being a bright little round-headed black boy known as " Cul-
peper," from his having come from that historical borough. He was
irrepressible. Under his leadership these colored boys would congre-
gate after the men had retired for the night, and keep up song and
dance until morning unless dispersed.

xVssistant Surgeon Clarke in mentioning these, says :

I well remember when the officer of tlie day was on his tour on one occasion.
These contrabands had formed in line, armed with sticks, sabers, or anything that
would serve the purpose, and on his approach rendered the salute in true military
style. I can see Captain Peck even now charg-ing on the black rascals withdrawn
SidxTs, and can also see the black hussars scattering in every direction.

It was not all camp-life during these winter days. Picket duty
helped to drive dull care away. However, the boys managed to get
considerable pleasure out of life in Camp Bayard.

Captain Vandorbilt was relieved, with his company, from duty at
General Smith's headquarters and reported at Camp Bayard on the
3d of January, and part of Company K returned on the 11th of the
same month.

Forty-five men belonging to Company M were mustered into
service at Elmira, and left for the Bi'giment on the 10th of January.

CO HISTORY OF THE TENTH llEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

About this time Colonel Leinmon came to Camp Bayard and as-
sumed command of the Regiment. He remained but a few days, but
his presence rekindled the smoldering embers of animosity, and the
strife was renewed with vigor. It was of short duration, however, as
he returned to AVashington again on the 13th of February.

Tv\'o hundred men, under command of Major Avery, went to
Lamb Creek Church on the 16th of January for the purpose of pick-
eting the lower Iiappahannock. The weather was bitter cold and
the sulTering of the men and horses great. The morning after their
arrival the llegiment was relieved by the Harris Light Cavalry and
returned to camp, and the following day was inspected by General
Gregg. ■

The entire Eegiment, numbering about seven hundred and fifty
men, was ordered on picket, going to Lamb Creek Church again on
the 20th of January. Only enough men to properly police and care
for the camp were left behind. The weather was very bad. High
winds and rain prevailed all night, and continued without cessation
the 21st and 22d. Notwithstanding the storm, great activity among
the troops was everywhere manifested. From six to ten men were on
a post at a time on the picket-line. Every horse was kept under the
saddle, and the greatest vigilance maintained. This was the time of
the "mud march," when the army under General Burnside became
hopelessly stuck in the mud.

The 23d was pleasant but cold. The Tenth remained on picket
until the 24th, when it returned to camp, and the next day, Sunday,
was inspected by General Gregg.

Jxiiiii commenced falling again on the 2'7th, turning to snow dur-
ing tlie night. It grow intensely cold on the 2Sth, on which day the
Regiment moved out at 3 P. M. on what proved to be a most tedious
march. At midnight it went into camp near King George Court-
Ilouse. Starting out again at daybreak on the 29th it marched to
Mathias Point, distant from Camp Bayard about thirty miles. T^>^
journey was made in a terrible storm, over roads well-nigh impassa-
ble. Early on tlie morning of tlie 30th the return march was com-
menced, and the command went into bivouac near the previous
night's camp. The next morning tlie march was resumed and Camp
Bayard reached about noon.

On the 3d of February the Regiment was paid to the 31st of Oc-
tober, and everybody, including the sutler, was happy.

Again the Regiment was ordered on picket, leaving camp Sunday,
February 8th, resuming its former place along the Rappahannock

j^r>:i SEVERE SNOW STORM. 61

Kiwr, which had now become quite familiar. On being relieved by
thi" Harris Light Cavalry, the command returned to camp on the
rjili. After making some changes of location at Camp Bayard and
lini'ariug themselves for a comfortable time, the boys were once more
•^tniimoued to King George County to do picket duty on Sunday, the
I'.th of February, relieving the Eighth Illinois and Tliird Indiana
cavalry regiments. The change did not involve any serious hard-
hliips. i\!^ the boys generally found comfortable quarters in deserted
biiiMiisgs and the commissariat was much improved by the finding of
qihiniities of hams, poultry, eggs, milk, etc. The isolated nature of
the country had preserved it from the frequent forays of the fero-
ci«;*i!S forager. Turkeys and pigs roamed at will for a while. There
wt-re many young ladies in the neighborhood, who, if not always
lovul, were generally social. They threw cheerful rays of sunshine
into this otherwise benighted section, for it could not be truthfully
j>aid that it was a paradise. The Northern Xeck was the home of
tli<* ].ecsy and Washington had spent some time there, probably the
U-iUT to appreciate the rest of the United States.*

Cortsiderable rain and snow fell while the Tenth was on duty in
tld^ country, a very severe storm occurring on the 17th of February.
Tiit^ :i'id was very cold and nearly a foot of snow was on the ground.
Two men were taken prisoners from Company B on this day, but the
Cumpany B boys evened up by capturing two Johnnies two days
later, Joseph Ranney and Butler Eollins by name, members of the
Xiuih Virginia Cavalry.

Company ^l joined the Regiment on the r20th of February, mak-
ing the regimental organization of three battalions complete for the
tir>t time.

Surgeon 11. K. Clarke relates the following incidents of life on
tlie Xorthern Neck at this time :

Tlie Rogiment was assigned to picket duty in King George County in the win-
t«.To( 18'.>2-'G3. Some amusing incidents occurred while there. Captain V^ander-

* hi The nistory of the British Plantations in America, London, 18CS, Part I,
pa-.? \rj,\ it is recorded:

*• Iininodiately after tliis Affair of tlie Phnit-Cutting was over. Lord Culpepper
^■t'lna•d again Governor: and while he was holding his second Assembly, his
L *rd-«hip liaving it then in View to purchase the Proprietorship of the Northern
Nt'^k, viz.: tliat Strip or Portion of Land which lies between the Rivers Rappa-
lutnn.x-k and Potowmaek,*' etc.

Lord Thomas Cuipeper arrived from England as Governor of Virginia in
IGTl).

62 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

bilt— he who knew all the horses in his company V)y sundry natural and uneras-
able marks — was at one time in command of the pickets, one post being near a
blacksmith-shop at the crossing of two roads. Near by lived a lady with several
daughters. The master of tliis household was in Fort Lafayette for 1-lockade-
running. They were ardent '• seccsh," and never lost an opportunity to drum on
their old piano The Bonnie Blue Flag when any of the officers passed. Orders
had been issued strictly prohibiting the killing of swine, sheep, calves, etc. One
day the lady, full of righteous indignation, sought out Major xVvcry t-nd related
that Captain Vanderbilt's men had killed her pet ply ! Captain Vandcrbilt was

summoned. " Captain," said the Major, " Mrs. tells me that your men have

killed her pet pig. Do you know anything about it i "

" Yes, Major," replied the Captain, while a suppressed smile hung about the
corners of his eyes, " the facts of the case are these : The pig attacked one of my
men on the picket post, and the man, being armed, got the best of the pig I"

The lady was compelled to bear her loss without redross.

Major Avery was a great lover of card-playing. lie one day bantered our
commissaiy, Lieutenant Preston, to a novel and uni'iue game of cards. Preston
held off for some time, but finally yielded to the ^Major's importunities and en-
gaged in a game. The result was so unsatisfactory to the regimental commander
that Preston was not bothered with further requests to play. The Major's dis-
comfiture "was a standing joke among his friends for a long time.

One night I with several others took refuge in a deserted log-house. The
horses were put in one part and we slept in the other. The snow was deep and
wet and the roads had no bottom. In the morning early the cabin took fire from
our chimney, and we were all incontinently hurried out into the snow.

In that country I saw for the first time people who did not know what a stove
was. They cooked in fireplaces as their forefathers had done.

R. G. King, of Company xi, relates a midnight adventure as fol-
lows :

" William A. Baker, John P. McWethey, Lyman Senter, Lon. ^lay-
you, John T.King and he, were on picket and patrol duty. Senter
was on post and 3[ayyou patroled the road onee an hour to the ncjir-
est picket post, that of Company L. The night was very dark, and
they had been instructed to maintain a strict outlook, as tlie roljcls
had been unusually active and enterprising. Mayyou, at the time
King approached the post, had been gone more than the allotted
time, and, as the moments flew by, the impression became more fixed
in their minds that he had gone on a visit to Richmond. Two liours
passed, and nothing having been heard from liini, King concluiUd to
make the trip over the road, which ran through a dense wood part of
the way, the balance of the route being hedged in by sc:it!:*jring
cedars. lie cocked liis revolver and started forward peering into {\\q
gloom, looking for something he did not want to Ibid. Passing along
the cedars he had almost reached the dense wood. In an instant,

18G3 REVIEW OP THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 63

quick as a flash, liis horse jumped to the side of the road into the
ditch and King landed on his neck. The horse remained immovable,
and King, with revolver cocked and aimed toward the point of sup-
jnhsetl rebels, breathlessly strained his vision in search of the cause of
his horse's fright. Yes, he saw something move. "Was it ^layyon,
wounded and unable to speak, or were they rebels moving to get into
his rear ? lie was about to fire, when he discerned the dim outlines of
an animal. He advanced and found it to be a calf that had been lying
down in the road, and was lazily stretching itself as he came up.
King felt that his growth was interfered with by that night's advent-
ure. He continued his march without further incident, and found
Maj-you at the picket post, where he had been detained, as he had
failed to secure the countersign."

Bidding adieu to friends and familiar scenes in King George
County, the Eegiment returned to Camp Bayard on the 2Stli of Feb-
ruary. Here it remained drilling and fixing np quarters until Mon-
day, March 9tli, when it went to Lamb Creek Church on picket
again. The Seconti Virginia was picketing the opposite side of the
Eappahannock. It evinced a desire to fraternize, but the orders
and disposition at this time were opposed to holding any intercourse
with the enemy. A boat filled with Confederate soldiers attempted
to make a crossing to our side on the 11th of March, but met with
such a warm reception from the pickets that they hastily returned.

On being relieved by the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, the Eegi-
ment returned to Camp Bayard on the 19th. Brigade and division
inspections on the 21th and 25th were followed by drilling and po-
licing the camp.

A part of the Kegiment was again sent on the 2Stli to picket the
Rappahannock below the point where they had recently'been on
duty.

A detail from the Tenth went to Falmouth on the 2d of April for
horses, returning with about seventy-five.

Captain Carpenter, of Company G, on being ordered before a
board of examination on the 4th of April, tendered his resignation,
which was accepted on the 9th of the same month.

The bugle-blasts brought the men from their quarters early on the
6th of April. Snow to the deptli of two or three inches had fallen
the day before, and, although still cold, the temperature was suffi-
ciently moderate to allow the clay to mix freely, the result of which
Avas plenty of mud. At seven o'clock the division, headed by Gen-
eral Gregg and staiT, moved out of camp, going to F:'lmouth, where

64 niSTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY 18G3

the Army of the Potomac was reviewed by President Lincoln and
General Hooker. After remaining in line a long time, during which
the infantry and artillery were being reviewed, the tall, gaunt form of
the President came into view, accompanied by General Hooker and a
vast retinue. The latter were ke2)t busy plying whip and spur to
keep in company. The President's face was pale, sad, and care-worn
in appearance. lie sat his small horse with ease, his long legs hang-
ing straight down, the feet nearly reaching to tlie ground. The
standing was followed by a passing review, in which the troopers
were given anothei opportunity of seeing the Chief Magistrate of the
nation.

Returning at -i P. m., active prej^arations were immediately begun
for leaving Camp Bayard. That portion of the Regiment on picket
reached camp on the 7th, and on Wednesday, April 8th, the brigade
moved out and formed in an open field, west of the camp, to witness
the infliction of the sentence of court-martial on two deserters from
the Second Xew York Cavalry. After the brigade had been formed
in a square, with one side left open, a blacksmith-forge was brought
into the inclosure and a large brand of the letter D was heated to
redness. ^Meantime the culprits having been marched into the open
space, the hair was cut from one side of the head of one, tlie red-hot
brand was then applied to the left hip of both, and they were marched
around the inside of the inclosure near the line, tliat every man might
have a close view of their features. This, togetlier with the doleful
music and savage proximity of the sabers' points to tlie backs of the
prisoners, was calculated to leave an enduring impression on the
minds of the witnesses* The prisoners were then marched olf and
the troops returned to camp.

Some changes had been wrought in the composition of the Ucgi-
ment during its stay in Camp Bayard. The command had become
united and the organization of a three-battalion regiment completed.
General Hooker, who had succeeded General Burnside in command
of the Army of the Potomac, was the first commander of the army
to recognize the worth of the cavalry. He caused the scattered regi-
ments to be collected and organized into a corps, to the command of
which Brigadier-General George Stoneman was appointed. It was as
follows ;

1ST>:J CHANGES IN THE TENTH. 05

CAVALRY CORPS.

Brigadier-General George Stoneman.*

First Division. — Brigadier-General Alfred Plcasonton.

First Brifjade. — Colonel Benjamin F, Davis : Eighth Illinois, Colonel David
R. Clendenin ; Third Indiana, Colonel George H. Chapman : Eighth New York,
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles R. Babbit ; Ninth New York, Colonel William Sackett.

Second Brigade. — Colonel Thomas C. Devin: First ]Miehigaii, Company L,
Lieutenant John K. Truax ; Sixth New York, Lieutenant - Colonel Duncan
McVicar, Captain William E. Beardsley; Eighth Pennsylvania, Major Pennock
Huey: Seventeenth Pennsylvania, Colonel Josiah H. Kellogg.

Artilhry. — New York Light, Sixth Battery, Lieutenant Joseph W. Martin.

Second Division. — Brigadier-General William W. Averill.

First Brigade. — Colonel Horace B, Sargent : First ]\Iassachusetts, Lieutenant-
Colonel Greely S. Curtis: Fourth New York, Colonel Louis P. Di Cesnola; Sixth
Oliio, ^lajor Benjamin C. Stanhope ; First Rhode Island, Lieutenant-Colonel John
L. Thompson.

Second Brigade. — Colonel John B. Mcintosh : Third Pennsylvania, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Edward S. Jones ; Fourth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel William
E. Doster; Sixteenth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel Lorenzo D. Rogers.

Artillery. — Second United States, Battery A, Captain John C. Tidball.

Third Division. — Brigadier-General David McM. Gregg.

First Brigade. — Colonel Judson Kilpatrick : First Maine, Colonel Calvin S.
Douty; Second New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry E. Davies, Jr.; Tenth New
York, Lieutenant-Colonel William Irvine.

Second Brigade. — Colonel Percy Wyndham : Twelfth Illinois, Lieutenant-
Colonel Hasbrouck Davis ; First Maryland, Lieutenant-Colonel James M. Deems ;
First New Jersey, Lieutenant - Colonel Virgil Broderick ; First Pennsylvania,
Colonel John P. Taylop.

Regular Reserve Cavalry Brigade. — Brigadier-General John Buford : Sixth
IVnnsylvania, Major Robert Morris, Jr. ; First United Stales, Captain R. S. C.
Lord; Second United States, Major Charles J. Whiting; Fifth United States,
Captain James E. Harrison : Sixth United States, Captain George C. Cram.

Artillery. — Captain James M. Robertson: Second United States, Batteries B and
L, Lieutenant Albert 0. Vincent; Second United States, Battery M, Lieutenant
lvol>ert Clarke ; Fourth United States, Battery E, Lieutenant Samuel S. Elder.

Of the foregoing commands the Second and Third Divisions,
First Brigade, First Division, and the Regular Reserve Brigade, with
Iiobertson's and Tidball's batteries, were on the Stoneman raid, April
'^i»th to May Tth.t

In the changes that had taken place among the officers of the
Tenth up to the 1st of March, Captain A. D. Waters had been pro-

* General Stoneman was afterward promoted Major-General of Volunteers
ttilh rank from Novenilx-r 29, 18G-3.

* ' Ulicia! I^ecords, xxv, Part I. ].. lOS.

60 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

moted to major of the new Third Battalion, and First Lieutenant
George Vanderbilt had been advanced to captain of Company L.
Lieutenant Layton S. Baldwin having been made captain of Com-
pany E, vice Morey, resigned, Sergeant-Major X. D. Preston was
commissioned as first lieutenant in his place. Both of the latter offi-
cers were promoted while on recruiting service in Xew York, and
did not join the Eegiment until February, when Lieutenant Preston
was promoted to regimental commissary of subsistence, and Second
Lieutenant William A. Snyder, of Company E, received a commission
as first lieutenant. Other changes among the officers and non-com-
missioned officers will be found by reference to the individual records.
The following was the roster of the commissioned oflicers of the
Regiment on the 1st of March, 1803 :

FIELD AND STAFF.

Colonel, John C. Lemmon.

Lieutenant-Colonel, WiiUam Irvine.

Majoi M Henry Avery, 31ajor John H. Kemper.

Major Alvah D. Waters.

George W. Kennedy, Adjutant. WiUiam E. Graves, Quartermaster.

Roger W. Pease, Surgejon. Noble D. Preston, Conimissary.

Henry K. Clarke, Assistant Surgeon. Rev. Robert Day, Chaplain.

. COMPANY OFFICERS.

Company A.

Captain, Henry S, Pratt.
1st Lieutenant, William C. Potter. 2d Lieutenant, Theodore H. Weed.

Company B.
Captain, Henry Field.
1st Lieutenant, John C, Hart. 2d Lieutenant, Thomas Jones.

Company C.
Captain, John Ordner.
1st Lieutenant, L. L. Barney. 2d Lieutenant, John Worrick.

Company D.
Captain, Aaron T. Bliss.
1st Lieutenant, William J. Robb. 2d Lieutenant, Joseph A. Hatry.

Company E.
Captain, Layton S. Baldwin.
IM Lieutenant, William A. Snvder. 2d Lieutenant. Nelson P. Lavton.

*^-.

£.

f ■ -.^.^

i€^ -''*'*

j:=t^.

.■;;:^ii''* ■*'

LIEUTENANT TRUMAN C. WHITE, Co. K.
LIEUTENANT HORACE MOREY, Co. E.

CAPTAIN NORRIS MOREY, Co. E.
SERGEANT FRANK PLACE. Co. 3.

186:3 GOOD-BY TO CAMP BAYARD. 57

Company F.

Captain, Wilkinson W. Paige.
1st Lieutenant, Henry L. Barker. 2d Lieutenant, Edward S. Hawes.

Company G.

Captain, Deles Carpenter.
1st Zieuttnant, John T. McKevitt. 2d Lieuttnani, John B. King.

CbJIPANY H.

Captain, William Peck.
^5.' Lieutenant, Francis G. Wynkoop. 2d Lieutenant, Charles E. Pratt.

Company I.
Captain, David Getman, Jr.
1st hiputenant, Stephen Dennie. 2d Lieutenant, Horatio H. Boyd.

Company K.

Captain, Wheaton Loorais.
1st Lieu{ena?it, Benj. F. Lownsbury. 2d Lteutenant, L. D. Burfilck.

Company L.

Captain, George Yanderbilt.
1st Lieutenant, Burton B. Porter.. 2d Lieutenant, Marshall R. Woodruff.

Company M.
Captain, John G. Pierce.
1st Lieutenant, Thomas W. Johnson. 2d Lieutenarit, James Matthews.

Gregg's division bade adieu to Camp Bayard after a stay of nearly
four moiiths. The time passed there and on the Northern Keck, if
not always pleasant, had been varied. The hours of yawning and
yearning, waiting and wishing, fretting and freezing, had been sand-
wiched with others full of fun and frolic, shouting and scouting,
picket and poker, so that, taken together, the boys of the Tenth no
doubt felt something of regret at the parting with the old and famil-
iar scenes.

The ]\cgiment was formed in line on the morning of April 13th
prepanitory to leaving the camp. When the order came that set the
command in motion there was many a glance toward the rough old
camp, tlie little log-cabins, and the oft-trodden paths. If not audible,
there novertlieless was felt in the hearts of mariy the sad " good-by,"
a faint echo of tliat farewell that had moistened the eye and loosened
the tension of the heart-v^>trings when they saw the dear old homes
thov ]i;u] loxt awav un Xortli irrowins: fainter in tlu? distance months

08 HISTORY OF THE TP:NT:I regiment of cavalry. 1863

before They knew the spring campaign was about to open, and they
would return no more to Camp Bayard.

At about 8 A :m. the Iiegiment, under command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Irvine, broke into column of fours, preceded by the other
regiments of the brigade, and after a march of about twenty miles
went into camp. Xext day, the 14th, it reached Bealton, and thence
to the Rappahannock, with the apparent design of crossing; but,
after " demonstrating," a portion of the First Maine Cavalry elf ected
a crossing, driving off a force of rebels who were guarding tlie bridge,
and recrossed to the north side during the afternoon. It rained hard
the latter part of the day. The boys liad more gloom than glory as
they settled down in a heavy rain that night.

Again the men were in the saddle at eight o'clock the next morn-
ing, the rain still falling. After clianging base several times, the
Regiment finally went into camp in the woods. The night was, if pos-
sible, more dreary than the last, cold and raw, and the rain continuing.

The river had now become a mad torrent ; crossing was impossi-
ble: Meantime, like the fabled general who marched his army up
the hill and then marched it down again, the cavalry corps was kept
moving, breaking camp in the morning, marching a little, and going
into camp again.

On the 16th a negro was brought into camp who reported that his
master knew of the movement of our cavalry from the time it left
camp at Belle Plain, and had gone to Richmond to inform the au-
thorities.

Foraging parties brought in considerable corn on the ITtli. A
light mist hung over the camp on the 18th, when the Regiment
was ordered out. Some cannonading occuri-ed at the river. After
marching a short distance, the Regiment went into camp near Beal-
ton. Field report on the 19th showed five hundred and ninety-three
effective men and horses.

Moving out in a rain-storm which set in the night before, the
Regiment marclied at 8 a. m. on the 20th, and passing through the
village of Liberty, struck the road leading to Waterloo, soutii of War-
renton, and encamped at 5.o0 r. M. Here Lieutenant Treston was
detailed as acting brigade comoiissary by Colonel Kilpatrick.

Breaking camp at 11 a. m. on the 22d, the Regiment marched to
Vv^arrenton Junction and settled down in a cold rain, wliich contin-
ued during the night and most of next day. On the 24th it rained
hard all day, and the boys were compelled to move the camp to
hiiifher crround.

18G3 THE STONEMAN RxilD. 69

Lieutenant Sceva, who had been confined in rebel prisons for
some time, returned to tlie Regiment on the 2Gth, but left for Wash-
ington next day.

There was some rain on the 28th, but it cleared up in the after-
noon. The entire command marched at 6 P. M. and bivouacked near
Kelly's Ford about nine o'clock.

At 11 A. 31. on the 29th of April the cavalry commenced crossing
the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford on a pontoon bridge, the boats of
which were coftiposed of canvas. After crossing, the Tenth biv-
ouacked about two miles from the river at 6 p. >r. Some skirmish-
ing after crossing, but the Tenth did not participate.

And now the start has been made on what has been gilded on the
pages of history as the Stoneman raid. The delay in crossing his
troops on tlie day of arrival at the place of crossing, when the river
might have been easily forded, has caused General Stoneman to be
severely criticised. His opportunity was lost by one day's delay.
General Hooker, under date of April 15, 1863, sent him a dispatch,
urging promptness in making the movement, in which, he says :

As you stated in your communication of yesterday that you would be over the
river with your command at daylight this morning, it was so communicated to
Washington, and it Avasjioped the crossing had been made in advance of the rise
of the river.

And the President sent the following to General Hooker on the
same day, the 15th :

Major-General Hooker : It is now 10.15 p. m. An hour ago I received your
letter of this morning, and a few moments later your dispatch of this evening.
The letter gives me considerable uneasiness. The rain and mud, of course, were
to be calculated upon. General S. is not moving rapidly enough to make the ex-
pedition come to anything. He has now been out three days, two of which were
unusually fair weather, and all three without hindrance from the enemy, and yet
he is not twenty-five miles from where he started. To reach his point he still has
sixty to go, another river (the Kapidan) to cross, and will be hindered by the
enemy. By arithmetic, how many days will it take him to do it ? I do not know
that any better can be done, but I greatly fear it is another failure already. Write
me often ; I am very anxious. Yours truly,

A. LiNXOLN.

By the long-enforced delay in crossing and the mananivring of
the corps in the vicinity of the upper fords of the Rappahannock, the
enemy were given timely notice of an intended movement, but were
evidently deceived as to the point of General Stoneman's crossing.

The bivouac on the nifrht of the 20th was without fires. A few

YO HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

hard-tack and a moiety of salt Jewish abomination was all the boys
received to qu.iet their stomaclis' demands.

The morui.ug of the 30th the command moved silently away from
its camp oirilie east bank of the Eapidanat six o'clock. The wagons,
extra and sick horses, mules, etc., were sent from here to United
States Ford under command of Commissary Preston and Lieutenant
M. R. AYoodruil' Of this numerous host we shall have occasion to
s})eak later.

After crossing the Rapidan, the Tenth marched in the direction
of Louisa Court-House, going into camp at 9 P. M.

A very early start was made on the morning of Friday, ]\Iay 1st,
the same gcno-al direction being pursued. Some skirmishing oc-
curred, but nothing sufficiently serious to impede the onward march,
lleaching tl^e \'icinity of Louisa Court-IIouse at night, the railroad
was destroyed each -side, and at 4 A. M. on the 2d the Tenth charged
through tlic tovN'n. A considerable force of the enemy was encoun-
tered. Some brisk fighting took place for a time, the Eegiment los-
ing three men wounded and three taken prisoners. Some Govern-
ment supplies fell into the hands of the Regiment.

The Tenth left Louisa Court-IIouse at 5 p. m., the rear of the col-
umn, and arrived at Thompson's Cross roads at 10 p. m., the men
pretty well worn out.

In his report, dated May 15, 18G3, covering the operations of the
Third Cavalry Division on the Stoneman raid, General D. McM.
Gregg says :

Leaving Orajige Springs at G p. m. (May 1st), the division arrived within three
fourths of a mile of the Coiut-Iiouse at 3 a. m. on the following day. At once
placing the tvro sociiuns of artillery under command of Captain J. M. Robertson,
Second Artillery, in a commanding position, and forming Colonel Wyndham's
brigade as supporrs, 1 directed Coloncd Kilpatrick to form his brigade into three
columns of attack — one to strike the town, one the railroad one mile above, the
third the railroad one mile below the toAvn. These parties, commanded respect-
ively by Colonel Kilpatrick. Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine, and Major Avery, Tenth
Now York, did the vrork handsomely.

Captain Lownsbury relates the following :

While at Lom'sn Court-IIouse, Companies E and K were assigned a position
just outside tlie viilage. Sergeant Pettis, of Company K, was anxious to secure a
better horse th;in the one he was riding, and started out early in the morning in
search of one. Passing through a piece of woods, he espied not far away an old
farmer mounted on what a}){>eared to be an excellent horse, and tlie Sergeant
concludod he would trade with him. Putting spurs to his horse, PoUis started

1863 CAPTAIN LOWXSBURY'S ACCOUNT. 71

^for his farmer friend, who also used the spurs with good effect on his steed.
Chasing the farmer around a little hill, Pettis called on him to halt or he would
shoot. Finally the old fellow was run into the corner of a fence, and Pettis was
about to "surround " him, when the "farmer" wheeled on his horse, and, raising
a revolver, fired, the ball making an uncomfortably close call to Pettis's head.
The supposed farmer gave his finejliorse the rein, and, clearing a high rail fence,
wa5 away like the wind.

The command broke camp and the Sabbath at 3 A. M., May 3d,
and moving eastward encamped at 5 P. M. near Hanover, to vrhich
place a detail of one hnndred and ten men from the Tenth vras sent
to destroy the railroad bridge. The bridge was a strong one and the
force of rebels guarding it still stronger, so the boys tore up the rail-
road track and burned some warehouses and retired.

Captain Lownsbury also relates the following :

After leaving Louisa Court-House about sundown, Companies E and K were
ordered from the position they had occupied in the order of march and assigned
as rear-guard of the entire force with Captain Baldwin in command. Just as
we were entering a piece of wood, we were met by a soldier of the Harris Light,
who excitedly exclaimed: "Officers, save your men! The woods are full of
rebels!" Captain Baldwin and I held a short consultation, when it was decided
to have the men in front draw sabers and the ones on the flank prepared to use
their revolvers. We started on a brisk trot, which rapidly developed into a run
in the haste to pass through the woods full of rebels, which were not there. The
run became a stampede under the maudlin shouts of the drunken soldier. All
the good things the boys had collected at and around Louisa Court-House
were scattered along the road to accelerate the speed of the horses. The useful
and the ornamental the necessities and the luxuries, were thrown to the winds.
The ban^ of tin pails and dishes sent back an echo to the shouts of the inebriated
genesis of the grand skedaddle. For nearly two miles the road was strewn with
cooldng utensils, provisions, and clothing, It was as if a store-house had been
struck by a cyclone. We overtook the rest of the command near the North Anna
River without even seeing a rebel. Some of the First Maine coming up with us
joined in the stampede. While we were stopping at the North Anna iiiver, the
drunken soldier who had caused the stampede came up and was promptly ar-
rested and tied to a tree, which was the last I saw of him until 1 reached Libby
Prison, three months later, when T saw this identical man in a squad drawn up to
bt> exchanged. He left Libby the day I entered,

Thompson's Cross-roads Avas the objective on tlie 4th. A half-
hour's halt for rest was made near a brick church at about 1.30 a.m.
Here the detacliment sent from the Regiment the day before to de-
stroy the bridge at Hanover joined the command. The march was
resumed at 5 A. m., and the Tenth bivouacked at Thompson's Cross-
roads at 3 V. M. Tlie foreed marches and lack of sleep were begin-

72 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

iiing to tell on tlie men. They slept in the saddles while on the
march.

The country afforded plenty of good things to eat, but there was
little opportunity for getting them. George Hines, of Company A, had
secured a fine chicken during the day. The thought of a nice sup-
per when the Kcgiment should go into camp lightened his fatigue
during the march. Xo sooner did the command go into bivouac than
George began elaborate preparations for his feast. The chicken was
prepared and put to boiling over a brisk fire, and George sat near by
replenishing the fire wdth wood, and occasionally testing the tender-
ness of the fowl. The camp was quiet — nearly all were enjoying

" Balmy Nature's sweet restorer,"

when the seductive aroma from George's boiling fowl was wafted to
the sensitive nostrils of Tip ]\Ic\Vethy and Lew Colburn, who were
reclining near by. Looking up, Tip noticed Ilincs nodding by the
fire, and suggested to Colburn a raid on the boiling chicken ! Creep-
ing cautiously up they lifted the fowl from the pot and returned,
feigning sleep, to await the denoument. Soon llines nearly lost his
equilibrium, but recovering himself, awoke, sprang up, and seizing his
long ladle swooped it around in the pot. Amazed at the result, he
returned to the swooping process again ! But, finding nothing of a
substantial nature in the pot, he turned his gaze slowly upward and
ejaculated, " Gone up in smoke and steam, by tliunder ! " But, after
a few moments' reflection, he concluded that the fowl must have re-
ceived outside assistance to have got out, and he declared his ability
to whip the man or combination of men who stole that chicken.

At 2 P.M. of the 5th the liegiment left camp, and crossed tlie
South Anna Kiver at 4.30 p. m., and the Pamunkey at 11 p. m. The
marching was continued all night in the rain. It was intensely dark,
and in some places the surroundings and soil were in perfect har-
mony, being dressed in deep mourning. Halts were made from time
to time, and during these short stops the men would fall asleep, the
horses, with heads down, joining in the elTort to relieve overburdened
Kature. At such times the quiet that prevailed would have made a
Shaker meeting seem like a pandemonium, until some luckless fellow
would lose his equipoise and fall to the ground, the rattling of saber
and accoutrements wakinir those a])out, causing a general tender of
choice adjectives, gilded with sulphur, as the only assistance to the
unfortunate comrade. Or, perchance, some poor, exhausted fellow
would give audible expression to his peaceful slumbers by snoring.

18C3 CAPTAIN GETMAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE RAID. 73

when his fellows would hurl at him such choice epithets as "Put a
nose-bag on him ! " " Buck and gag him ! " etc.

Wednesday, the Gth, the march and sleep was continued. A brief
halt was made at 9 a. m., on the 7th, the first since leaving camp the
morning before, and, crossing the Eapidan, reached Kelly's Ford and
encamped at 9 p. Mt>in a drenching rain.

It would, no doubt, have been considered impossible to cross the
Eappahanfiock in its swollen condition, had the command been on
the north side, but the troops were now in a position that admitted
of no argument. They must cross, and they did. On the morning
of the 8th the jaded animals were urged into the rushing torrent by
their riders and compelled to swim, reaching the opposite shore
■wherever thev could secure a foothold, the current carrvinir them
swiftly down-stream. Although attended with great danger, the
crossing was made with the loss of only one man in the Tenth, that
of Private Tittsworth, of Company H.

The exhausted condition of the command, the two or three days
preceding the crossing of the Eappahannock on the return march,
■was such as to invite attack from an enterprising enemy ; but Stuart,
the spirit of the Confederate cavalry, had been called to the com-
mand of General Jackson's corps, on the wounding of that officer at
the battle of Chancellorsville, on the 2d of May, and the esprit de
corps of the rebel horse appeared at this time somewhat broken.

The following letter from Captain Getman, of Company I, to 1:'^^
father, WTittenjust after the return from the raid, furnishes a gi-aphic
picture of the great march :

Bealton Station, Va., Mai/ 15, 1S63.
Dear Father: I embrace this opportunity to write you. The details of the
recent raid, froni which we have just returned, you have undoubtedly collected
from the dilTerent newspapers. You perhaps sa\Y that a detail from General
Gregg's command went to the extreme rear and burned a bridge. That detrdl
was commanded by myself. Some of our brigade (Colonel Kilpatriek's) went
within two miles of Richmond. Myself and company went within seven miles.
After the charge into Louisa Court-IIouso, and while we had possession of it, I was
ordered to take my squadron and establish a picket-line toward Gordonsviile.
We had proceeded about two miles on our mission, when we were suddenly at-
tacked by an atlvance-guard of the enemy. I immediately dispersed my men as
skirmishers — attt-r concentrating the enemy 1 rallied my command, ciiarged, and
drove them into their reserve. (They fired four volleys. One shot grazed my
mare's ear and slightly touched my whiskers.) I then retired, without losing a
n)an. A squadron of the First Maine then charged. I advised them to be on
their guard, as I believed the fright exhibited by the enemy in retreating was
ar-sunic'd, as I s;uv smoke rising from bcVtind the trees, which convinced me that

74: HISTOllY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1803

quite a force were lying in ambush. The result proved I was correct. The Pirst
Maine drove them, exultant at their success, beyond the reserve, which closed
upon them, cutting off their retreat, killing two, wounding several, and taking
twenty-five prisoners. I forgot to mention we placed one hors de comhat.

My next adventure was near Thompson's Cross-roads. As our division was
about moving from that place on our return, the Adjutant rode up to me, saying,
"Captain Getman, you will immediately take your command at a gallop and
picket the rear, as Colonel Wyndhamhas moved, leaving us entirely unprotected."
I hastened and established my line. In a few moments an aide rode up and
ordered me to remain until after dark, then cross the South Anna, burn the
bridge, and join the division, which had already moved. About eleven o'clock
we crossed the river, fired the bridge, guarding it against a small force of the
enemy, who were on the opposite bank, evidently with the intention of extin-
guishing the flames after we left. They saw, by our movement, we purposed to
remain until it was so far consumed as to be useless, when one shot was fired and
they retired. It was now about eleven o'clock, the night pitchy dark. We were
surrounded by our enemies without knowing the direction taken by our brigade.

1 now, for the first time, sought assistance of negroes, whom we found truly
valuable. By the way, they were the only guides used by General Stoneman.
One piloted mo from the river to Ijouisa Court-llouse ; he then furnished me with
another, who told me where the rebel pickets were posted. He also informed me
that Buford's brigade had passed through the town at ten o'clock (it was now

2 A. 31.), going toward Gordonsville. I passed in the rear and very close to the
rebel camp-fires, until within four miles of Gordonsville, when another negro told
me that Buford's command had returned pell-mell during the night and taken
the road toward Orange Court-IIouse, and that we were close on the rebel pickets.
I immediately ordered a countermarch, retracing my steps about two or three
miles, then taking a secluded road toward Orange Court-IIouse. We marched
very rapidly, following Buford's trail all night and all the next day, when we
came to a large stream, very much swollen by the heavy rains, the bridge having
been destroyed by our forces to prevent pursuit by the enemy. We were truly in
a fearful dilennna — a body of the enemy's cavalry were drawn up in line of battle
about a quarter of a mile in the rear with infantry behind them, while in front a
wild stream was rushing like a torrent. I set my men at work building rafts,
and preparatory to building a bridge, the men evidently watching the moment
we should enter the stream, with the intention oC rushing down upon us and Kill,
capture, or drown the whole command.

Now again the negro was called into requisition. One told us that the founda-
tion of a bridge was still standing, about two miles above, which he thought
could be fixed. Sergeant Jacob C. Case, with a squad of men, was dispatched to
examine and report with regard to it. In about an hour he reported all ready
to cross. He swam his hoi^e to the abutments, placed two planks side by side,
and all was ready. I immediately mounted my men and hastened to the bridge.
We swam the horses to the bridge, th(;n dismountoil, led thorn over the bridge,
mounted again, and swam to the opposite shore, Jacob remaining V)ehind and
throwing th-^ planks into the river. We had but just crossed over when the ene-
my appeared on the opposite bank. We continued to march until we came to
another stream, In the distance, on the opposite side, I saw a largo encampment.

1863 COLONEL KILPATRICK'S MARCU TO GLOUCESTER POINT. 75

I sent over a couple of scouts, who returned in duo time, reporting "all riglit."
As our forces had concentrated and were preparing to continue the march, we
crossed the stream, took up our line of march with the whole command, crossed
the Rapidan, and continued the march, crossing the Rappahannock, with a loss
in my company of three men, Albert Hall, George W. Davis, and George \V.
Close, who wore captured by the enemy, their horses having flagged. John Ilarve
Richardson would have lost his life had he not been a good swimmer. He was
mounted on a mule ; crossing the Rappahannock the mule in some way became
entangled, throwing John into the current.

My men displayed the courage of veterans in the charge of which I spoke.
After the unsuccessful charge of the F'lrst JMaine 1 was ordered out to re-enforce
them. My men were in line in an instant and started on our dangerous mission.
About this time Colonel Kilpatrick rode up with the brigade, relieving me, as our
horses were very much jaded, ordering me to take charge of and defend the bag-
gage train. We had a severe time of it ; we marched ninety miles in twenty-
eight hours.

We are recruiting preparatory to another " grand raid," and perhaps you will
not hear from me for some time to come, but remain assured that amid the mo-
notonous routine of camp duty, or the variety of excitement incident to field serv-
ice, my thoughts are ever of home and those 1 have left behind me, and a tear
will course unbidden down ray bronzed cheek as I think of the dear ones who
repose beneath the sod, and whose spiritual presence, in the form of fond mem-
ory, keeps me in the path of rectitude and aloof from the temptations that beset
an army. And the only request 1 have to make is, should I fall in this struggle,
if it is in your power, obtain my body and place it beside my mother and sister —
there to molder back to that dust from whence it came. Trusting this will not
be the case, I subscribe myself, in great haste.

Your affectionate son,

David Getman, Jr.

On the morning of the 3d, Qolonel Kilpatrick, taking the Harris
Light Cavalry, set out from Louisa Coiirt-ITouse for the Peninsula.
A portion of this command entered tlie outer works surrounding
Richmond, made some captures of prisoners and propert}*, and finally
reached Gloucester Point on the 7tli. On the march Kilpatrick en-
countered a 23ortion of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, which had ho-
come separated from the rest of tlie command, and took them along.
During the absence of Kilpatrick the brigade — First Maine and Teiith
Kew York — was commanded by Colonel Bouty.

Assistant Surgeon II. K. Clarke speaks of his experience as fol-
lows :

The Stoneman raid — what a muddy, wearisome march ! Then I learned v%-hat
fatigue and hunger meant. Ton days — ten long days and nights of weariness.
One night I was with the advance-guard. 1 went forward with one of the soldiers,
and coming to a house we represented ourselves as "Johnnies" ; made ourselves
as agreeable as possible, inquired whether any '* Yanks " liad been around ; asked

HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C3

for and obtained an cxcollent supper, the good things served us at that time re-
maining fresh in my memory to the present day. One year later, when passing
over this route on the raid to Richmond, under Sheridan, a soldier rode up to
me, and pointing to a house, said, " Don't you remember the dinner we got at
that house a year ago, doctor f " I did not recognize the house nor my inform-
ant, but I did the dinner.

One of the members of the Tenth, writing in regard to the raid
soon after the rettirn, says :

Such a march ! Day and night for six days, halting just long enough to feed
— never exceeding two hours — did we urge our horses along, traveling hundreds

i\i '^>

of miles during the time. It was no nncommnn occurrence during the last days
of the march to see men fall asleep in their saddli.-s and drop to the ground from
fatigue and exhaustion.

Corporal X. A. Hcyiiulds, of Comj)any A, liad throe horses "play
out "and was left behind dismounti'd the la,<t day's march, but he
captured a rebel, took liis liorsc, and came up wirli tlu; command

18C3 FOLLOWING TDE CAVALRY WAGON TRAL\. 77

while crossing the Rappahannock, bringing his prisoner in and turn-
ing him over to the provost-marshal.

Several good animals were captured on the raid, one of which was
appraised and purchased by Major Avery, which he called *' Banks."

The Stoneman raid will be remembered by those who participated
in it, for the test of endurance it entailed rather than for any great
damage inflicted on the enemy. It was one of the many hard strokes
which followed rapidly the organization of the corps that finally made
the homogeneous mass a solid, compact body, and gave it power and
endurance. It also demonstrated the fact that a well-organized and
Tv^ell-officered body of Yankee horsemen could penetrate the eneniy's
country with ease, and, under proper discipline and instruction, do
much damage. Tliere is little doubt but the prominence awarded the
cavalry by General Hooker was viewed with much concern by the
Confederates, who must have foreseen, from the time of the Stoneman
raid, the prestige of " Stuart's cavalry," declining, as the Northern
horsemen loomed up so conspicuously. The great cavalry engage-
ment at Brandy Station, a month later, forever settled the superiority
of the two corps in favor of the Yankees.

TTe will now return to the wagon train and escort, which were am-
putated from the main body on the 30th of April, and sent to Chan-
cellorsville. This grand and imposing cavalcade — the Union Trans-
fer Company of the Cavalry Corps — proceeded to its destination,
passing over the field, where a few moments later the terrible clash of
arms between the Union and rebel armies occurred — marching to the
Chancellorsville House on the road near which the Confederate Gen-
eral Jackson met his death. The rear portion of the train was cut off
by the rebel army advancing to meet the Union lines of infantry.
From the Chancellorsville House the train proceeded on the road to
the United States Ford. The cavalry boys started to take the main
road leading to the ford, but were compelled to yield it to the infant-
ry and artillery going to the front in large numbers. It was a matr
ter of regret that they didn't take the main road. They had become
so accustomed to taking anything they wanted, that it might have
been taken without seriously affecting their consciences. Besides,
main roads appeared to bo scarce, aud they could no doubt have dis-
posed of it at a good figure to the Eleventh Corps, a little later, as it
was understood they were looking for one.

The train finally reached the ford in echelon, left in front — that
is, the ones in front got left — as they remained " standing to mule "
for a long time, awaiting an opportunity to cross on the pontoon

78 HISTORY OP THE TENTH IIEGIMEXT OP CAVALRY. 18G3

bridge, while the retir portion, supposing a halt had been called, went
into camp, had a good cup of coiYee and enjoyed a quiet rest.

Finally, the right of way was secured by the beasts of burden and
their attendants.

After crossing, camp was established on the high grounds over-
looking the United States Ford, the wagons parked, tents pitched,
the mules formed in a hollow square around the camp, business ends
outward, and the brave defenders of the tail end of the Cavalry Corps
sought quiet and rest in the shade of the friendly trees. During the
night of the 3d of May the Confederates advanced a battery near the
river on the opposite side, and at early dawn on the 4tli began a bom-
bardment of the camp.

The effect of being awakened from peaceful slumbers by the
bursting and banging of shells is rather bewildering, to say the least.
Anyway, they had that effect on the boys in the train-camp that
morning. In front of the line of tents was an ancient, bald-headed
old patriarch of the forest — a rotten tree-stub, about eighteen inches
in diameter. A vigorous push by a muscular fellow would, no doubt,
have sent it over. In the scramble which followed the sudden awak-
ening this decayed remnant of Nature's grandeur was selected as a
defense from the exploding shells ! A long line of brave fellows,
most of whom were in undress uniform, were soon crowding in the
shadow of that stub, among the number the regimental commissary.
The picture was too ridiculous to bo long maintained. With a shout
the boys broke from the line, and laughter, long and loud, ensued.
The shells intended for the mule-camp reached tlie herding-place of
Confederate prisoners, just beyond, who rejoiced when the projectiles
fell among the teams and tents, but when, a few moments later, some
of them fell plump in their midst, they made earnest appeals for a
change of location.

Seven hundred and fifty of these prisoners were sent to Falmouth,
with a detachment under Sergeant Peck, of Company M, as guards,
during this day.

When news was received of tlie return of the cavalry from the
raid, camp was broken and the train put in motion for the purpose
of forming a junction. The train and escort joined the command at
Bealton Station on the 9th.

The next day the brigade broke camp and marched to ITartwood
Church, vvhere it encamped. At 8 a. m. on the 11th the march was
taken up again and continued to Potomac Creek iJridge, where the
Regiment went into camp. Here the boys were vigorously assailed

1863 BACK TO BEALTON. ^g

by wood-ticks. Between the attacks of these new-found visitors and
the regular inhabitants, they had liard scratching to get any rest.
Tlie Potomac Creek afforded excellent opportunities for bathing and
laundry-work, which were well improved.

Paymaster Armstrong appeared in camp on the l-ith and paid the
men to the 1st of March, 1803.

Boots and saddles at sunrise on the loth brought the Regiment
into line again, and at eight o'clock the march was taken up in a
westerly direction, going into camp once more at iJealton Station.
Picketing the surrounding country for several succeeding days was no.
pleasant duty, since guerrillas were numerous and murders of Union
troops frequent. Philip Cuming, of Company I, while on picket,
was killed and his horse and personal effects carried off" only a day or
two after the arrival of the Regiment at Bealton. Sergeant L. A.
Colburn, of Company A, was out early one morning in command of
the patrol in a section of country that had become notoriously bad.
Hearing a shot fired in the direction of one of the picket posts, he
hastened to the place, where he was informed that the post had been
fired on. Leading his patrol to a house near by, he discovered the
tracks of a man in the soft earth and the imprint of the same boot
on the door-steps. Posting his men around the house, Colburn
rapped at the door. It was all quiet within. The rappings were
continued until a response was obtained. " Who's there ? " was de-
manded in a feminine voice, and when informed, the same voice
asked for time to allow the ladies to arise and dress.

But to an imperative demand to open the door or it would be
forced open, it was thrown back, and a w^oman demanded the author-
ity by which her house was thus rudely entered. " Well," said Col-
burn, " I'm acting on my own authority just now," and going for-
ward commenced a search of the rooms. As the men were about to
enter the last room, the woman placed herself in the door and pleaded
that they would not intrude, as her daughter was wdthin lying. at
the point of death. " Well," said Colburn, " trot out the man and
we won't disturb your daughter." The woman was indignant at the
insinuation that there was a man in the house. The boys proceeded
to investigate. The single bed in the room contained a single person
or what seemed a person, though no portion was visible. Turning
down the clothing, the comely features of a very healthy-looking
young woman appeared. The boys thought they wouldn't disturb
her only just what was. necessary, but as the bed was against a door
they were compelled to move it to gain access. Colburn entered the

80 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

dark recess which the door opened into, and as lie did so his feet
encountered something of a soft nature. Reaching down his liand
it ran into a man's hair, still wet from the rain of the night be-
fore. The hand involuntai'ily tightened its grip, and Colburn
stepped out into the sick (?) chamber with a handf id of hair. There
was a man on the end of it, One of the boys went into the closet
and brought out the fellow's gun and accoutrements, which were
yet damp from the night's dew. The fellow pleaded for mercy
while the boys were discussing the rope question. It was finally de-
cided to take him to camp, where he was turned over to the provost
marshal.

Johnny vSchenck, of Company A, was placed on picket in a lonely
spot one night near Morrisvillo. Surrounded by a tliick growth of
underbrush, Sclienck thought it afforded a good screen for a hostile
to approach very near him unobserved, and he kept both eyes and
ears opened, watching in every direction. His vigilance was re-
warded some time after midnight. First he heard a faint rustling of
leaves as if made by a squirrel. The noise grew nearer and nearer.
Anon it would cease entirely, and then again it would be resumed.
A twig would snap, and then a silence ensue as though fear of discov-
ery might follow. ^leantime Schenck with bated breath was peering
into the underbrush, with his carbine to his shoulder cocked and
ready for immediate use. It was a starlight night and a moving ob-
ject could be discerned for a little distance very fairly. Presently,
creeping on all-fours, clutching a carbine in his right liand, the form
of a human being appeared beneath the underbni.-h. " Halt ! move
a muscle and you're a dead man ! " shouted Schenck. The would-be
murderer needed no second admonition. He was as immovable as a
statue. The Yankee and the gun were botli uncomfortably plain to
the astonished man. " Drop that gun, throw up your hatids, and
come up here!" The fellow was under a good state of discipline.
The order was obeyed without a word. Securimr his man, Schenck
watched him and the surrounding country until he was relieved,
when he marched his prisoner into camp to ri'oeive, not the plaudits
of his comrades, but their execrations tor briniring the would-be
murderer in alive ! On the prisoner was found a pass, readino"
something like this :

Hkadc^uartkrs, etc.

Private . havin;:^ indicated his abiiiry to socure u n-mount, is hereby given

permission to visit Farquhar County for •— days.

» Commanding.

18G3 ON PICKET AT WARKENTON JUNCTION. 81

Which, translated into English, " indicated his ability " to murder
a Yankee and secure his horse.

The command left Bealton Station early in the morning of the
16th, and went into hivouack near Rappahannock about 11 A. ii.
Next morning it broke camp about 8 A. M. and returned to Bealton.
These moves were probably for strategic purposes.

While on picket near Liberty, a Confederate horseman was dis-
covered on the road leading to Sulphur Springs, and four of our
boys gave chase, pursuing the venturesome Johnny to the liappahan-
nock, and secured his hat, wliich he lost in his flight. This piece of
ancient and dilapidated head-gear was identified as the property of
one " Mr. Johnson," of the Black Horse Cavalry, whose fondness for
the society of pretty Miss Belle ISTewhouse, who lived with her mother
at Fayette ville, on the road between Liberty and Sulphur Springs,
induced him' to test the vigilance of the Yankee pickets in the en-
deavor to allay the wild pulsations of a heart overburdened with love.
The boys tantalized poor Belle by exhibiting the trophy as evidence
that Mr. Johnson had been on a flying trip to that section of country.

The Regiment continued on picket around Liberty, Fayetteville,
and on the Sulphur Springs road until Friday, May 20th, when it
was relieved by the First Maryland Cavalry. The following day it
marched to Warrenton Junction and went on picket. Frequent
alarms kept the boys wide avrake. It grew quite monotonous if they
were not called out at least once every day to meet some threatened
attack or to intercept some imaginary raiding party. On being re-
lieved from picket by the First Maine Cavalry on the 2d of June, the
Regiment returned to camp.

\^-

HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY

1863

CHAPTER V.

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. — FROM BRANDY STATION TO GETTYSBURG.

ISSATISFACTIOX with the results of the
cavahy operations in the rear of the Con-
federate army caused the removal of Gen-
eral Stoneman from the command of the
corps and the substitution' of General Al-
fred Pleasonton in his stead.

Colonel Kilpatrick returned and took
command of his brigade on Sunday, June
7th. The same evening a number of offi-
cers of the brigade assembled at his head-
-- quarters and enjoyed a few hours' social in-
tercourse, recounting the scenes and incidents of the raid. It was
late wdien Colonel Kilpatrick remarked, in a jocular way, that the
"boys" had better turn in early, and get as much rest and sleep as
possible, as the Cavalry Corps would beard the lion in his den, by
crossing the Rappahannock the next day, and give battle to the ene-
my at Brandy Station. This announcement wa:s greeted with expres-
sions of satisfaction, and a desire to meet the Confederate horsemen
in an open fiel^ fight. The following day was one of busy prepara-
tion for battle. An old grindstone had been found and brought into
the camp of the Tenth, and was kept in use nearly ail day, in sharp-
ening the sabers. Then sonu^ wag started the story that, by the rules
of war any soldier found with a sharp sword or saljer on his person
was liable to be shot. Some of the susceptible youths proceeded to
put an edge on their blades as dull as their comprehensions, not stop-
ping to consid3r the joke of their '- liability to be sliot " in any event.
General Hooker, having received information that the Coiifeder-
ate army was withdrawing from his front, and nuissing in the vicinity
of Culpepcr, ordered Gei\oral Pleasonton to cross the river with the
Cavalry Corps, and attack whatever force he might encounter, with
the view of ascertaining, as far as possible, the numbers and purposes

■Hudson l^^^^

%:^

X '

'^^.

G^^^

'%.

^'■.

~'«^/, ^^*«^-

'^o.

i- Irvir. ^^^'

^^'Vrv- K P^^^^

ge>;kjr>\i-s ot-^ the
siscond c^n'^vlrv 13i\^lsio^<,

ARJvlY OK the: POTOXI^C

18G3 KEEN BLADES FOR A PROMISED CONTEST. 83

of the enemy. AVitli the impression that no considerable force of Con-
federates were near the river, General Pleasonton's plan was to cross
one division at Beverly Ford and two at Kelly's Ford at the same
time, and uniting south of the river, advance until the enemy was
encountered. Ikit Stuart had inoved his corps near the upper fords,
preparatory to crossing the same day, to clear the way and guard the
Hank of the main army, which was to follow, on an invasion of
Maryland and Pennsylvania. There was, thej-efore, a surprise in
store for tlie Union as well as the Confederate cavalry, when the
latter were encountered as soon as Buford's troops gained the south-
ern shore of the Rappahannock, on the morning of the 9 th of June.

Camps were broken in Gregg's division at 2 p. m. on the Sth of
June, and the march taken up toward the Eappahannock. The day
w^as very warm and the rising dust almost stifling. Eeaching Kelly's
Ford in the "evening, the troops went into bivouac on the north
side. Xo fires were permitted. The men had neither coffee nor
comfort that night, but the loss of these did not chill their ardor.
They exiiibited an enthusiasm and a desire to measure blades with
the Southern horsemen that gave promise of success.

Longstreet's corps of the Confederate army was assembled at
Culpeper Court-IIouse on the evening of June 7th, preparatory to
crossing the Rappahannock and moving north for the invasion of
the loyal States. The Confederate cavalry corps, numbering at least
ten thousand men, were reviewed on the open field between Brandy
Station and Culpeper Court-IIouse by Generals Leo and Stuart on
the day the Federal troops were moved to the vicinity of the fords,
preparatory to crossing the next day.

The Comfe de Paris relates that Pleasonton's corps numbered
scarcely seven thousand five hundred men,* and that, to make up for
tlie numerical inferiority, Ames's brigade, from the Eleventh, and
Hussell's brigade, from the Sixth Corps, numbering, all told, about
three thousand men, were added to Pleasonton's command ; but the
Comte de Paris adds that, notwithstanding the excellent qualities of
these soldiers, " tlieir co-operation interfered with the mobility of the
cavalry, and consequently destroyed part of its chances of success."

Early on the mornino; of tlie Otli the column under General
Greofcr crossed at Keilv's Ford unobserved. Buford's division crossed
at Beverly Ford, farther up the river, about the same time. Gen-
eral Pleasonton moved with this latter column. General Gregg, leav-

•-' The B;ittlo of Gt!lty<()urir. by the Coinie de Paris, p. 0.

with Ws own division, the TidTtZ iVl '^'^^"«"-^'^"S:' "'Wle he
The sound of Buford'; ,!^„s up t'ho ri. ""i'"' '" ^''^""'y »^='««'^-

ward. The unslindn.°o ea L " T '"'""^ *° ''"^''^" ««?g &-
coh«m before comin.; in vIet V '"T"'^' "^ ''P' ''''°"? ^he
Hill had an ominous merur T, °^'° ^^''''^ "'•°«"' ^'^'^'-ood
belts tightened, and the amnlunS "'"'' ^''''' °'°^^''^- "'■^1'^'=*^^, the
access. Like the ^^^:7^ :":Z\i''' ' ™^^ '° ^•^^>-
was put in readiness for the conflict" "'"''''' everything

dert:l:tX^r:::vt^^^^^^^^^ ^-^^ ^-^nd Brigade, „n-

Bcene was most inspiriij" and 2^??. '"'"^' *° ""^ '^*-* '-^hc
fiegiment of a desife to pTrticLt l^. ?''"■'• ^-^l"-«^«i«"« in the
moment to wait. C^IondSS I '"'^ '""'''^ ""^" '"'''^ ''"^

and with his usual im^S i« t f™"'-''".'''^"''^'^ '°' '^''^^^^
port Of Colonel KilpafrilniS.endi*:^ " ^'^ ^'■"^""^- ^'^^^ ^^
The Comtede Paris says :t .

withTstr;::; txT^ir-r '^"^" '-' -- ^-^ ^'^^''-. ".^'n^

enemy. Grog., in^nkr t'o^ a .T'^'^^^''^^, -» ,?■-- ^e has capfn-oC fr'o^ t h^
the eft flank of the Confederates Th;"X: t"'"'"!'''' '^"=»1« f" &!! upon
one :nch of ground. Their leaders perfo,™ p,^. '^i "°" l" T""""'^' -^^ "<" ^''^''^

Kilpatrick's battle-fl'vr ,t-.-,. ~ i

the Harris Ligh, the Tenth X:: W-'^.d t,'; r "T V "• '"^ "■'•'"'• ■'""-"^-■^ "^
rons. I ,s brigade ^-as r.uicldv forn"d\n , f ^ ",""'■• "' '''"^"" "' -l»aci-
the rebel ea.airy ^hioh tilled' the fie d b f ' ;'^'^"'''" "'^•'' " '■•"""-cloud upon
ceived the first shoek of tlie rebel rh k "' ^'"' ^'""' -^'^v Vork re-

confusion. ^^'"■'' '■'""•Se. but >™s hurled back, thougl' not 1

t Three Veat. in the Fed.^; j'c:;::,:;""^> '" ''"-> P' ^«-

1803 ACCOUNT BY LIELTTEXAXT B. B. PORTER. 85

the Tenth, threw that part of the Regiment into momentary con-
fusion. The broken nature of the ground over wliich the command
was compelled to pass also contributed to weaken its formation.
Nevertheless, the Confederate line was met in a gallant manner by
the major part of the Regiment. The First Maine was ordered for-
ward at this opportune moment, and part of the Tenth retired, while
another portion continued to engage the enemy at close quarters.
The First Maine went gallantly forward, and striking the Confed-
erates in flank, drove them back.

The fact should not be lost sight of that the splendid charge
made by the Tenth on this occasion was upon the enemy in supe-
rior numbers in fronts the Regiment thus meeting more than man
for man. Whatever of credit or glory attaches to this particular part
of the engagement of the day belongs quite as much to it as to any
regiment. It was a memorable charge for the Tenth, one in which it
acquitted itself with credit.

In the midst of the struggle Colonel Irvine's horse went down
with him near the railroad, and he was immediately surrounded and
made a prisoner. He fought until overpowered, but was finally
forced to surrender. In speaking of his capture afterward. Major
Avery said : " I never saw so striking an example of devotion to duty.
He rode into them slashing with his saber in a measured and deter-
mined manner just as he went at everything else, with deliberation
and firmness of purpose. I never saw a man so cool under such cir-
cumstances."

Captain B. B. Porter, at the time first lieutenant of Company L,
furnishes the following; in resrard to the battle :

At the time of the battle of Brandy Station I was acting as adjutant of the
Regiment. On the 8th of June, 18G3, our Regiment, with the entire division —
the Third — commanded by General Gregg, was moved to the vicinity of Kelly's
Ford, and Ijivouacked, There was but little sleep, however. The; men were ani-
mated v/ith the prospect of meeting tlie rebel cavalry in a fair, open-field fight,
which the morrow promised. They had never been engaged as an unbroken
whole, and now an opportunity was to bo presented for displaying the qualities
of the Regiment as a unit. There had been companies and detachments from
it engaged at various times and places, and the men had acquitted themselves in
all these isolated atlairs with credit, and increased the desire for a chance to see
what the Regiment could do united. It probably never counted so many officers
and men in any other engagement, nor was the esprit de corps ever better. In
my connection with the Regiment 1 never witnessed more enthusiasm and con-
fidence by the men than on this occasion. Tiicre was a positive eagerness for the
meeting. The number of men in the Regiment who particif»atcd in the battle was
ivbout live hundred, and they were led In' o)ie in whom they had perfect con-

86 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMEXT OF CAVALRY. 1863

fidence, Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine. Every man responded promptly to the call
to " fall in," early in the morning on that memorable 0th of June, 1803. The
spirit of enthu^iiasm and good cheer pervaded the entire command under Gen-
eral Gregg, so far as my observation extended, presaging the grand results which
were to be recorded of it that day.

We crossed the ford without opposition and marched straight for Brandy
Station, where the rebel cavalry was known to be encamped. The booming of
Buford's guns, up the river, advised us that he had already encountered the enemy.
Our advance-guard met with no opposition until we were near the field which was
so soon to be rendered historical as the battle-ground between the two powerful
cavalry corps of the opposing armies. When we had reached the edge of the
timber, about three fourths of a mile from Brandy Station, we were halted and
drawn up in squadron fronts, preparatory to charging into the open, where the
rebels were rapidly concentrating. Occasional shells were dropped around us
from the enemy's battery on Fleetwood Hill, but they caused no damage or uneasi-
ness. Our Second Brigade, under Colonel Wyndhara, had been engaged, and had
met with some reverses. While avvaiting ordei"s to participate, our boys mani-
fested the utmost restlessness and anxiety to engage in the battle. The orders
were at hand. The voice of Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine rose clear and firm —
"Attention! Forward, march!" And as soon as we had cleared the woods,
" Trot ! March ! Guide left ! " How the hot blood coursed through ray veins at "
that moment ! Who can describe the feelings of a man on entering a charge ?
How exhilarating, and yet how awful ! The glory of success in a charge is intoxi-
cating! One forgets everything, even personal safety, in the one grand thought
of vanquishing the enemy. We were in for it now, and the nerves were strung to
the highest tension. When about two thirds of the distance intervening between
the starting-point and the railroad had been passed, the command comes —
" Column, walk. Draw sabers! Trot!" The Regiment was well in hand, the
fonnation perfect. The enemy in small numbers advanced from the hill to
oppose us. As a part of our line was crossing the railroad, Colonel Kilpatrick,
with some stalT-officers, passed us and ordered Colonel Irvine to charge to the
right of the hiil. Colonel Irvine itnniedjjuely gave the command, "Gallop!
Charge!" and the Regiment s\vt>pt up the hillside, where they were met by a
largely superior force, that had been concentrated on tiiat point as the key to the
situation. It was a hand-to-hand struLT'-rlo ntjw. Hore many of our brave boys
went down. Colonel Irvine was on the right of the leading squadron, and I was
at his left. The rebel line that swept down upon us came in splendid order, and
when the two lines were about to ilv.se in, they opened a rapid fire upon us. Then
followed an indescribable clashing and slashing banging and yellin;::. My entire
time was taken up in caring for Lieutenant Porter at this time, and the rapidly-
moving panorama left no distinct n-coHection of anything that occurred in par-
ticular, outside my individual ex:>.Ti":Ke. Two or three stalwart rebels crowded
past me, intent on tlio capriiro nf Colwiul Irvine. I was of apparent little account
in their desperate ctforts t.) reach him. Wc were now so mixed up with the rebels
that every man was fighting d(>[u-rat<ly to maintain the position until assistance
could be brought forward. The from squadrons l)roke to the right and left to
allow the rear squadrons to ct»n»e upo-n the enemy fresh. In an instant evervthin^-
was mixed up and confuse*!, and Irvi-io a !:;M.ni-r. I m;tde desperate etlorts to

18G3 ELIAS EVxVNS'S xiCCOUNT. 87

rally enough of our boys to attempt his recapture, but it was of no avail. Every-
man had all he could attend to himself. I found myself with but two or three
of our men near, and concluded it would be best to release myself from the awk-
ward position I was in as soon as possible. Just then a big reb bore down on
me with his saber raised. I parried the blow with ray saber, which, however, was
delivered with such force as to partially break the pariw, and left its mark across
my back and nearly unhorsed me. One of our boys probed my assailant from the
rear, and he dismounted. It was plain that 1 must get out then, if ever. The
only avenue of escape was over a high embankment of the railroad, and a reb
squadron was advancing on that point, not far away. The rebel commander gave
orders not to kill my horse, probably deeming me already a prisoner. Two jumps
of the horse brought me to the embankment. Every reb in that squadron fired
at me, but, strangely enough, the only bullet that found its mark was one that
burned my upper lip so badly I thought it had been carried away. But the next
jump of the horse was over the embankment and out of their reach. I imme-
diately made for an approaching column, which I discovered in the nick of time
to be Johnnies, and changed my course. I saw Lieutenant Eobb ahead of me
getting out of a ditch. Pie gained his horse and urged him to clear a fence,
which he refused to do. My horse jumped the ditch and over the rear of Robb's
horse and the fence too. Not more than fifty feet from that fence Robb was
killed. He was a brave and enterprising officer, with whom I was quite familiar.
I had learned to respect him for his sterling qualities as an officer and a man. 1
finally reached the Regiment in safety, others, who like myself had become sepa-
rated, coming in later, and the command was reorganized by Major Avery, who
was left in command by the capture of Colonel Irvine.

Elias Evans, of Company D, writes :

I believe I was the last person that talked with Lieutenant Robb, and I was
near him when he was killed. When the regiment charged on the rebel line,
Companies D and B acted as flankers. When the rebel line broke, a fine stand of
colors was seen going up the railroad. One of General Gregg's staff-officers, who
was present v.'ith us, said," Can't we get those colors, boys^" We needed no sec-
ond hint. Away we went for the colors, but we had not gone far before we saw
what appeared to be a whole brigade of rebels coming for us. We were under such
headway that before we could change direction they had gained our rear and cut
us off from the rest of the command. We made for a piece of woods on our flank,
but intervening was a dry ditch of from eight to ten feet in width. There was a
dug-out just wide enough for a wagon to pass through, and into that narrow pass-
age-way our men were choked in the endeavor to escape from the rebel horde that
were pressing upon them. When Lieutenant Robb and I reached it, he said to
me, *' Now, 'Lias, what will we do ? " I said, " Follow me," and, putting the spurs
to my horse, he cleared the ditch, but Robb's horse, in endeavoring to do the same,
fell into it. There were two rebels close upon him. and one of them ran his
saber through liis body, the blade entering near the right shoulder in rear and
coming out at his breast. Ills horse scrambled out of the ditch and the Lieuten-
ant clung to him for something like fifty or one hundred feet, when he relaxed
his hold and fell to the ground. While he was struggling in the ditch, I turned
and shot one of the rebels, the bullet taknig efi"cct in his arm. lie cried out, " O

HISTORY OF THE TPLNTH in-GlMliNT OF (WVALTIY. 18G3

God, I'm shot !" Just then, as I was aboul to Jis;
a little rebel ollicer made a cul at mewitiv Ims >
from my head. I thought it b':?t to i:,'et oui ot th-i
the woods. As I came upon the main road 1 '".iuii
rendering it impossible to tell friend from f'-j, \>\-^
I rode up to him and discovered liim to be a In
revolver against his head, I called out, '-^iiaond
thing more to this. 1 was somewliat excited, and ]:
but I had neither time nor inciinaiion to stu.iy my
away, quick, and unbuckle your belt, and Jroj, ;;
little ^t/e-d-^t7e both our horses were on a i!;ad
myself in the presence of rebel infantry, Itit 1 htx
was a very fine one, but he was so stiff iit/xi ,'.; ■
Gait. The bridle, w^hich was a beautiful silvei-i.ioi

nount to assist llio Lieutenant,
•ubcr, and struck my hat clean
L ]-)lace, and 1 made a break for
I it, fdlcd with troo})s, the dust
, hiti.t;ling out. one ahead of me,
Thrusting mv

i-LiTown reiK

.l.rl

Robert Evans, of Comptmy I), cor;
Evans in regard to the death of Lvj
he was one of about thirty men wh" v
forlorn hope, trying to br^ak tlirougn
he saw three rebels attackinc; Lieutoii:
his saber through him, the blade cui
shoulder, and coming out at his bren^^t
heard the Lieutenant utter were, '-
" Every man for himself."

Joseph F. iVshtenaw, of Company

I was knocked from my h()r?o and fell. .,at
prisoner. While being marched to the ri .ir ;
Robb. lie lay on his face, with arms exr-,::! ^
view the body. He appcariMl to liavo l'- r,
memorandiijn-book from his p''fi:et. whi'li ■, >
examined by General Fitz-l [):;.'}; L.-e, whor; 1 ■
returned it to me after examiuii.g it. 1 ci; ri^
forwarded it to his mother from Annap/lls :vr

jr ; " I may have added some-
erliaps used impoiile hmguage,
v/ords. "Tiu-ow tliat revolver
K whole tiuno- ! " During this
:un. All of a ^udden I found
Kvghl olT my p-ri^ie. The horse
'i:;.-,^ I g;p.T jiiiii to Lieutenant
;at.ed one, I kept.

">borates the stutcniont of Elias
,'ei;:int Kobb. IIc States that
'Ot.i vaih the Jieuteriant in the
.;u' Confederaiu lines. He says
i!o Jiobb, one of \\ horn thrust
_rii!g from the rear, near the
Ivrans says the la^t words he
o/r, about wliotd," and then,

), writes :

my head bridiy. and was taken
■ tlie dead bo'ly of Lieutenant

asked pfri?ii>.<ion to stop and
iuhil in Iv.o }>l.'ices. I took a
^raicd wi;h hi-; b]:'od. It was
?>!•., agin:, into his presence, who

through Libby with me, and
'vv,^ oXeh;>!i'_'.'d.

General C. H. Smitlu lioutenina- o-!-']iol of the First Maine
Cavalry at the time of tlie lirandy ^\^it\iAi liL^ht, dolivered an address
at a reunion of that regiment, whioli i.^ ])u')Iished in tiic llistorv of
the First ]\Iaine Cavalry. The folhwiu./ i- nn extraed :

. . •. Our division crossed at Kelly's F«r':,
remarks here will be restriclcd to what u; < -'■:
Second Brigade had the advjince. Ours ;> !"
New York, Harris Light, Fir>t r^faim*. 'I'Uu ■.
and we had to keep the road in cdunm. Ti ■
and our business was to reach liis camps as s
hardly a pause in our advance. 31iirh of ilv3

;'!;.; ilirrefon- had ih-- left, and mv

■ ■.; on ih.u part of the field. The

■ I in the following order : Tenth
i 111' ilic mareli wa- through woods,
; liHiiiioii of the enemy was known.
■>u as [H)s-sible. J lis pickets caused
v,;ty v,c ratle at a gallop. Only the

1863 OPERATIONS AliOU^D FLEEl^v OOD jilLL. 89

head of the column could strike the en(;iny, but tliv^. ch^-Vivnt regiment.^ ;ravo suc-
cessive blows as lliey arrived. The S.-ucnd Jirigado h; d become brokcMi ;ind de-
feated when the First goL in. The Tenth New York Mude a gallant chargi;. Its
colonel went do.vn .'ud was captured.

Fleetwood Hill, which was tlio o1:)jectivo point of both sides, was
taken and retaken several times. CajinOii wore raptured and jecapt-
urcd, and Union soldiers were frcquejitly n^Liiri;-, n ii consciously, i)}^
the side of Confederates in the dust, smoke, ; nd confusion. Wliilo
all this desperate but indecisive ligiiting was u"on!^'- on, the Ooijicder-
ates were rapidly jiurrjing forvrard troo]-:' J'or tlio destructic>n of
Gregg's forces.

General Doubleday says : *

. . . The First Division, under Bufoid. Cfime u] cii tbe ^.-nemy between jlrandy
Station and Beverly Ford. A battle ensued at St. .'aines ('hurch, and, as their
whole force confronted him, he was uiiuhle to break ikfir line. After fighting
some hours he was ol)liged to turn bar'k with a P''^rL:'-p -"^^ his command to rej^-el
an attempt against his line of retreat. Gregg next i,]»i; -iirL'u upon the scene, and
succeeded in getting in Stuart's rear before the rcV.-i -t. iund knew he ^\•as tlu-re.
Buford having gone back toward Beverly Ford, uz st^it'd, Gregg, in liis turn,
fotight the whole of Stuart's force wititout the eo-:-;; r.';tio?i of either Baford or
Dufile. It can hardly be said that DulTie's coluiun l.^ok uny part in the action,
for he did not reach Brandy Station until late in tlni d.iy ; and then, as the rebel
infantry was approaeliing, Pleasonton ordered a reireat.

C. TV. Wiles, of Company L, relates thar, .'i: ii.e time of apinoach-
ing the scene of the conflict in the mornir;^;, dp'-jin Vanderbilt vras
sent to report witli his company, L, to Geni'i:il ;Ciissell, comraanding
the brigade of infantr}', who ord^-rtM'l him t:> ]) -v: r/i okets to give warn-
ing of any movement down the j ui.ds iii Jii^ 1 ".' i. .Vjid so it cliancod
that the Regimciit was deprived of the service, uf ihis excellent com-
pany in its operations around Floct^vood IIill. j'oward eveuing tlie
cessation of liriug at Brandy Sraiion caviled vdipmin Yanderljilt to
feel that the battle must have ended, ai;'! ho looked anxiously for
orders from General Ivussell to withdraw hi- i.'ckvets ; but none came.
It was after sunset when the piclccts reported. l:.ir go numbers of horse-
men in their front. It was impossiide to drtonii^iic the color of their
uniforms, and li\'vd< TYright and Fred Tilliu:':!'.t>t were sent forward
to observe and report. Tliey were immcciiatt !v tired upoji, and as
they retired tliey Aveve pursued by (;;ute a nniiib*:!- of. the Cjieiny. Cap-
tain Vanderbilt rightly conjectured that our ; ru^'ps had been -witli-
drawn to the north side of the river, and thnt lik: Id lie force had been

Campaigns of tb-:- Civil War, vcl. vi, p. s:5.

90 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

forgotten. He, therefore, hastily called in his pickets, and gave the
enemy a volley, and started his company on a run for Rappahannock
Bridge, some three miles away. The enemy, recoveiing from the bold
action of the Captain and his squadron, immediately commenced the
pursuit. Captain Vanderbilt kept his command well together, as they
sped onward as rapidly as spur and voice could urge their horses.
Shouting and shooting, the rebels followed, close behind. While the
pursued w^ere making every effort to increase the gap between them-
selves and their pursuers, Andy Ginn's horse stumbled, throwing
Andy to the ground. Captain Vanderbilt was not made of the stulf
that deserts a man in such an extremity. Calling on a couple of his
men to halt, they assisted in getting the horse and man properly ad-
justed for a continuation of the race, the rest of the men meantime
causing the pursuers to check their horses for an instant by a practi-
cal display of their marksmanship ! Then away they went like the
wind again, until their hearts were gladdened by the sight of our
troops across the river. Our artillery, mistaking them for Johnnies,
sent several shells into altogether too close proximity to be comfort-
able. The gathering darkness prevented recognition, and the boys
were compelled to run the gantlet of the shells until their identity
was disclosed to our troops at the river. Then the guns were elevated
to suit the requirements of the case, and Company L came into camp
under flying colors.

Xight settled down on the Regiment, near Beulton Station, in a
broken and rather dejected state. The men, all begrimed and bat-
tered, entertained no thought of sleep, but remained grouped together,
discussing the great battle, with its many incidenrs of daring deeds
and noble sacrifices. There were many touching allusions to the loss-
of tent-mates, and the heroic elTorts to i^ave compani(>ns from death or
capture, but all were imbued with tlie glory of having met and suc-
cessfully measured sabers with the much-vaunted and by many
thought to be invincible rebel cavalry.

The Regiment sustained a severe loss in the cajiture of Lieutenant-
Colonel Irvine, Captain Getman, and Lieutenant King, and the death
of Lieutenant Robb. Colonel Irvine, wliile a good disciplinarian, w*a3
by nature kind and symT>athetie, and his ]->re.senoe with the Regiment
was a guarantee tiiat every intere.-t uf tlio men would be carefully
looked after and attended to.

The capture of Captain Getman was a severe loss to the Regiment,
and a source of mortification and disappointment to liimself. He was
an educated military man, a superl) horseman, and an accomplished

^-"QiiJ^h^

\ '^'^

^^,

-.^

.^'^

^ '^'"H^

^^^

">.*

v;^:

i-!EUT. L. P. NORTON. Co. L.

L!£UT. HARLAN P. THOMPSON, Co. A.

LIEUT. JOHN B. KING. Co. G.
HUGO MULERTT, Co. C.

1863 lii":uti:.\'.\:;t king taken prisoner. 91

swordsin^m. Altliou.irh of a retiring n:iture, lie would most surely
have altained to a liigh positio]! in the service had he not been cut off
from all cliance ot ad\an<X'mcnt by liis Jong imprisonment.

LientcTiant Kin:r, wiUi a shattered arm, was borne away to die
in a rebel Iiospital. afur enduring a long and painful imprisonment.
Want of the simp'-si ;i!tentions to liis wound at the proper time de-
prived this gallari'c v, iHcer and noble man of his life.

Xo braver man. rv/r drew saber than Lieutenant liobb. Fnll of
dash, energy, and ciiterpri.^e, lie was an oflicer calculated to keep an
enemy on the akwi , and to impress his own character upon those
about him.

The gallantry of th'^ Tenth on the field of Brandy Station is well
attested by its lo::SO^s wliic-}! are given in the Official Eecords, vol. xxvii,
page loO, as follows :

Oflicer killed 1

OJTic•^:'^^'^ wounded 3

OfTli'd' missing 1

Enlisted men killed 2

Enlisted men ^vouT.ld~'tl 15

Enlisted men mi>?inc; 60*

Total 82

Or more than t/ui«-e. tlie loss of the entii-e brigade outside the Tenth.

In the report ol Colonel L. S. Baker, First Xorth Carolina Cav-
alry, of the part i:il:on by his regiment in the fight, occurs the fol-
lowing : I

Tlic H."giment iv.^il.- two cdiiirgos with perfect success on cavalry, capturing the
standard oi" the Tcntli >'t'W York Regiment and routing them.

This is somewliat ambiguous. Colonel Baker's report might, per-
haps, luive been bi.tter ]iarai)hrased tlius : *' The Regiment made two
charges with perfect success — on paper." "Whether Colonel Baker
meant that his ro^iinoiit routed the standard or the Tenth Xew York
Regiment is not Cjuito elea.r; but, as a matter of fact, it neither routed
the Tontli Xew York nor captured its standard. The Tenth never
lost a standard and \v;i.> never routed.

As to the relative otrcuo-tli of the forces ens^asfed at Brandv Sta-
tion, Gon.eral Grcjc^ s;i'\s:

*A mini Inn- of llu.-o reponed missmg escaped and reported to the regiment
later. Fur corrected roiurn <oo list of casualties.

f Onicial l^eeords. <rriv s I. x^A. xxvii, Tart IT. p. 7ZQ.

02 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

The strcn^j^th of Stuart's command at this time was subsequently ascertained
to have been about twelve thousand horsemen, divided into live brigades, with
sixteen pieces of light artillery.

General Gregg places tlie cavalry under General John Buford and
himself at about nine thousand, witli six batteries ; * but of this num-
ber the column under Colonel D utile, nearly a third of the entire
force, was not seriously engaged at all, and the artillery was but little
used.f

To this estimate of the num.ber of horsemen on the Confederate
side. Major McClellan, of General Stuart's stalf, takes exception, al-
leging only about half the number. | In his Campaigns of Stuart's
Cavalry, page 293, this same ofiicer states, however, that the monthly
return for ^May 31, 18G3, for the five brigades constituting Stuart's
corps, together with his horso artillery, showed an effective total of
9,530; and also that,- "on the 5th of June, eight thousand cavalry
passed under the eye of their commander," * etc. This was evidently
exclusive of his artiilerj', as he mentions in tlie same connection that
" the guns of the artillery battalion on the hill opposite the stand gave
forth fire and smoke," etc. It is well known that the Confederates
were not accustomed to underestimate their forces, nor to allow any
of tlieir men to skulk or remain idle when a figlit was in progress.
It is fair to assume tliat the forces engaged were about equal, with
the chances that the Confederates were the more numerous if any-
thing. Both sides claimed tlie battle as a victory, the mean of which
would be a draw.

The lesson of Brandy Station was healthful to our cavalry. It
gave them the much-needed confidence in themselves which ever
after proved disastrous to their opponents.

On this point, Major McClellan, General Stuart's assistant adju-
tant-general, frankly says : ||

* Annals of the War, p. 375.

f General Pleasonton's report, as given in the Official Records, shows the num-
ber in the Reserve Brigade and First Cavalry Division, under General Buford, to
have been 3,918, and in the Second and Third Cavalry Divisions, under General
G regg. 4,0G3, a total efTectives of 7.0S1 men. There was in addition a force of
1,500 infantry with each of the columns under Generals lUifunl and Gre^i;. Gen-
eral measonton also reports the number of cavalry and artillery at Warrenton
Juitetion, Juno lltli. at 1,9:3; absent on scout and picket, l,OsO— total. 0.053.

t Major McClellan, of .Stuart's staif, puts the number at 9,3:55 men, on paper,
and twenty guns; but states there wore nearly three thousand absentees.— (Cam-
2)ai(/ns of f?te Civil War, vol. vi, p, S?.)

« Page 2G1. | Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 294.

1803

BACK IN THE THIRD BRIGADE.

One result of incalculable importance certainly did follow this battle, it made
the Federal cavalry. Up to that time confessedly inferior to the Southern horse-
men, they gained on this day that confidence in themselves and in their com-
manders which enabled them to contest so fiercely the subsequent battle-fields of
June, July, and October.

The division moved to Warrenton Junction on the 10th of June,
and next day the Cavahy Corps was reorganized into two divisions :
the First, consisting of three brigades, was commanded by Brigadier-
General John Buford ; and the Second, of the same number of brig-
ades, by Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg. Tlie Third Brigade of
the latter division was made up of the First Maine, Tenth Xew York,
and Fourth and Sixteenth Pennsylvania, and w^as commanded by
Colonel John Irviii Gregg of the last-named regiment.

^Vi-^i"^ ^

-^■■^^

•»-^,^—

?■ ':

r^^^- r..

4?V..- ^^

Oil the March.

The Tenth remained in camp near Warrenton Junction until the
15th of June, when the cavalry commenced moving northwjird. The
infantry had been marchinir in the same direction for several hours

94 HISTORY OF TUE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

before the cavalry broke camp. Reaching Union ^lills late at night,
the Regiment bivouacked, and next day marched with the brigade to
Aldie, where it arrived about 3 p. m. As the Regiment neared the
village, the sharp crack of tlie carbines indicated an engagement.
The Tenth was moved to the right of the road just before reaching
a bridge over a little creek in the edge of the village. The First
Maine Cavalry had been detached and ordered to report to Kilpat-
rick, who had been promoted to brigadier-general on the lOtli of
June and now commanded the First Brigade of the Second Division.
They were immediately ordered forward to charge the enemy, who
were posted behind stone walls, hay-stacks, etc. The First Maine
did noble service here, losing heavily, among their killed being the
brave Colonel Douty, who fell pierced by a rebel bullet while gallantly
leading his regiment in the charge. The Tenth did not actively par-
ticipate in this engagement, but portions of the Regiment were on the
skirmish-line for a time. It remained near xVldie during: the nischt
of the ITth, and the next morning advanced with the brigade on the
road to Middleburg, skirmishing sharply with Robertson's and Cham-
bliss's brigades, steadily driving them back. The Regiment en-
camped on the pike, midway between Aldie and Middleburg, with
pickets near the latter place.

Early on the morning of the 19 th the advance was taken up, the
enemy gradually falling back before the skirmishers. AVhen near
the village, the Fourth Pennsylvania charged through the town and
for some distance beyond, the Tenth advancing on either side of the
road. When about one mile west of the viUage the enemy made a
determined stand. The nature of the country was well suited for
defensive operations. The road led through an open tin:iber, with a
wheat-field intervening on the right. A heavy stone v.'all separated
the road from the wheat-fiold, this wall extending the entire distance
between our skirmishers and the timber. The road was narrow, mak--
ing it impossible to charge mounted except in column of fours. The
rebels occupied the timber as well as the stone wall. Skirmishing in
the wheat-field was quite brisk, while from their protected position
behind trees and walls the enemy were delivering a destructive fire
into our ranks. General Gregg came u})on the ground, and. seeing
the necessity of carrying tlie })osition, ordered ^lajor Avery to drive
the enemy out of the woods. The skirmishers in the wheat- field were
advanced, and that portion of the Regiment which was in the road
was immediately sent forward to clear the woods. It was exceedingly
liot work, but the command sped gallantly to the charge, driving the

18G3 MAJOR KEMPER'S AND SERGEANT EDSON'S ACCOUNT. 05

rebels from cover into the open beyond, but at a great loss in officers
and men. (See report of Colonel J. Irvin Gregg, in Appendix.)
Of this engagement Major Kemper writes :

We struck tlie Confederate cavalry just beyond Middleburg, and skirmished
for a long time. The Fifth Virginia was. in our front on the road. Near an old
blacksmith-shop, on an elevation, the rebels had a battery, and on the right of
this was the Third North Carolina Cavalry. A narrow strip of timber was in
our immediate front, and a solid stone wall ran along the edge, behind which tl\e
enemy's skirmishers were posted. We had four companies on the right of our line
in the wheat-field, as skirmishers; the balance of the Regiment, in column of
fours, was in the road. I received instructions to take a squadron and charge the
rebel lino as far as the woods, when, if I found it too hot to maintain my position,
I could fall back. Company F was in front of the column and Company I next.
I gave the command, '* Draw saber ! Forward, march ! Trot I Gallop ! Charge !"
As we neared the woods the battery fired one round and then I saw them limber
lip and fall back, their skirmishers meantime dodging from. tree to tree. Just after
entering the woods I saw Lieutenant Hawes swing his horse across the column,
cutting off six or eight men. I said, " Ilawes, my dear fellow, what's the mat-
ter ? " He replied, " I am shot, Major," and, placing his hand to his breast, I saw
the blood issuing between the buttons on his jacket. I ordered two men to dis-
mount and take him from his horse and carry him to the rear. Getting the men
into column again, I went back to Lieutenant Boyd, and said, " Boyd, let us try
and reach that knoll in front." He raised his saber and said, " Come on, boys I "
and was shot through the heart, and fell to the ground, striking against my horse
as he went down. I then cliarged with what was left up to the knoll. From the
position gained I saw a great body of eavalr}' drawn up in regimental fronts, just
beyond a bend in the w^oods. I then ordered a retreat. When we got back
through the woods I halted, and found I had ])ut five men with me— the first ser-
geant of Company I and four men belonging to Company F. Our skirmish-line,
which had been advanced to the stone wall when I made the charge, held it. The
rebels retired some distance, and their batteries did some desultory shelling, doing
no harm. We occupied the woods that night.

Of the charge made by Companies B and D, led by :\rajor Waters,
no less gallant and determined than the one just related, Sergeant
(afterward Lieutenant) A. J. Edson, of Company D, writes as follows :

When we moved up from Aldie we commenced skirmishing about half-way
between that place and :\Iiddleburg, and drove the rebel? back to within about
tliree fourths of a mile of the woods west of the latter place, then we moved off
the road to the left and formed squadrons. While this was going on the rebels
had good range on us with two pieces of artillery located in the edge of the woods.
Our battery at this time was commanded l>y an ofTicer who presented a somewhat
youthful appearance and who did not seem to liave mnch regard for regulations
in the matter of nniform. Ho wore a large white hat, and, sitting on the fence
by the roadside, kept a close watch on the rebel battery. After a while he jumped
from the fence, and hastening to his batf^rv siizhted one of the guns and gave

9G HISTORY OF THE TEXTII REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

the command, " Fire ! " This ho repeated again, and the rebel guns were
silenced. Then we moved back to the road, and ]\Iajor Waters was ordered to
charge with his battalion, which he did in a most gallant manner. Placing him-
self at the head of Company B, which was in advance — Company D next, and the
other companies following — he gave the command, '' Draw sabers !" and bravely
led us to the cliargo. Just before reaching the woods we were compelled to pass
through a cut in the road, and it was here the rebels poured into our ranks a
murderous fire from both sides of the cut and iu the woods in our immediate
front. But few of the boys reached the tim]>er, and there a man from Company B,
whose name 1 can not recollect, mysteriously disappeared. He frequently ui^ed
the expression, " To be lively," accompanied by a peculiar shrill whistle. AVhen
we reached the rebels in and around the cut, he yelled at the top of his voice,
"To be lively!" and whistling charged into the woods, which were full of rebs.
He must have been killed or wounded and captured, as we never sav/ or heard
from the poor fellow after. In this same place, Moriiiner Spring, of Company D,
was wounded, besides others, whom 1 do not now recollect. Just after we had
forced the cut, the balance of the Regiment came up and formed near by, and the
entire command then advanced into the woods, driving the rebels out lively, and
here we had formod line when the commissary arrived and issued rations to us.
As my position in the line brought me near the place occupied by the rebel bat-
tery before alluded to, I had an opportunity of noting the effect of the shots from
our battery, directed by the young lieutenant. Tht-re was a broken gun-carriage,
showing where the shot had struck it, and the gun had to be left, and fell into
our hands.* \Ye had sharpened our sal)ers but a few days before this engage-
ment, and the boys used them, to great advantage in the cut, many of 1 ho rebels
receiving severe punishment from the keen blades. One of the staff-officers re-
marked to General Gregg, as the bleeding prisoners passed by, " There is the
work of the Tenth Xew York, wiih their sharp sabers ! "

After the engagement the Regiment commenced burying the dead. David
Davis, a member of Company D. had dug a grave by the side of a reb, and then
sat down by the side of it. General Gregg, in i^as^In- said, " Why don't you
bury that man ?" Davis, who spoke quite broken W, I-h, replied, " I jes wait'n a
few minutes fer 'im to die ! "

From tliis point to Upperville it was one continuous skirmish. These engaf^e-
ments appeared to mo to show that the sj.irit of St(!;irt*s cavalry was broken.
They fought well afterward, but I never knew them to stand one oi' our charges
unless they were backed ijy infantry.

Corporal David L. Wallace, of Company A, wlio was wonndcd in
this engagement, and afterward suitered the amputation of a le<r,
writes as follows :

On the night of the 18th of June v.-e enramp.-d in the woods on the ri^^ht side
of the turnpike, about half-way bi-f.veen Ahlie and Mt.ldl^.hurg. Just lu'fore dav-

* In The Campaigns of Smart's Ca\alry. page :VN\ :\Iaj()r McClellan savs:
" In leaving his (Stuart's) first p.-iti-n a lilukely gun belonging to Hart's battery
was aHandoned. The axle had b ( n l>roken by a ^hot from the enenu', and no
means were at hand for its. rejuovul,"

'■" ir»o^ *' "ip.

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LIEUTENANT HENRY WERRICK,
Co. C.

WILLIAM LENOX,
Co. D.

^^ltliis-soBBasiaiBiiiaaMsaE^iiiiiiiis®fe:^^aaaiiisiiM«aaa-0.^l^

4 4

^44v

JOHN A. FREER,
REGIMENTAL COMMISSARY SERGEANT.

1H;3 corporal DAVID L. WALLACE'S ACCOUNT. 97

hfM a tliunder-shower caino up. We comtneneod inarching toward Middleburg
e?wiit (5 A. M., on the 10th, the First Battalion on the right and the Second Battalion
<iM the left of the road. The artillery followed in the road. When near Middle-
bar'^ one of the caissons blew up, but I believe no one was hurt. We passed
lhr.>ti<''h the village, and about a mile beyond we were dismounted and double-
i'uick<xl about a mile and deployed as skirmishers in the edge of a wheat-field.
TiiC ri<^ht of the skirmish-line was behind a stone wall that inclosed a small ceme-
i. TV. A few of the skirmishers entered an old stone house, but the Johnnies sent
a i-holl through it, and the boys vacated it on the double quick. The rebel skir-
mi^iiers were behind large bowlders in a ravine, and their artillery in the woods
t^j^-erai rods to the rear. We relieved the First Maine skirmisliers about 8 or
1> A. M., and just after noon we drove the rebel line back into and part way
through tlie woods. They made a mounted charge and gobbled quite a number
<.f o\ir boys. About this time two companies of our regiment, I think F and I,
made a mounted charge up the road, and fired a volley, one of the balls striking
me in the left leg, about half-way between the ankle and knee, shattering the
l>nics. I fell and was left there for perhaps ten minutes, the rebels having
retreated meantime.' Presently they returned, I should think fully five hundred
strong, .nd took position behind the trees, and companies F and I again charged
tlit'iu, wlien Lieutenant Boyd was instantly killed and Lieutenant Hawes mor-
lally wounded, dying that afternoon in the same room in which I was placed in
Middleburg. John Ford, of Company A, was shot just below the ribs, the bullet
v-C'tuing out at the back. He died in Lincoln Hospital, in Washington, about two
rnoviths after. Gustave Lanninger was wounded in the wrist, and Ab Hayes,
Frank Brownell, and John King, all of Company A, were taken prisoners.

As 1 lay behind a little hickory-tree, the bullets and shells came so thick and
tik'^l 1 crawled down behind a big cotton wood. The dead lieutenant lay near me,
and the rebels were anxious to strip and plunder the body. Two of thera went
f'Twatd for the purpose, but our boys were vigilant, and one of the rebels was
lilled and the other so badly wounded he was compelled to lie down. Then
ftrif.iher one started from behind the same tree 1 was occupying, and he was shot
through the arm above the elbow, which laid him up. As I lay there 1 saw about
one hiinrlre<l of our boys advancing. It looked like murder to send so few against
at ka.st five times their number, and protected, too, by the trees. Finally, our
b.y> were flanked and fell back, and I was left alone. I crawled about forty rods,
»bfn two boys from another regiment took me behind some rocks that had shel-
t^cv'd the rebel sharpshooters in the morning. Soon after Sergeant Mitchell
^-artv? Miih a horse and took me back to the toll-gate, where I was put in an am-
iulajice with Ijieutenant Hawes. and taken to Middleburg, and placed in an old
5'^*^% This was about 3 p. m. My leg was amputated about three inches below
*^=< kn^. and I was taken to Aldie that night, and on Sunday, the 21st, was sent
' ' ^Va.*hington. That ended my soldiering.

Lieutenant John B. Buffnm, at the time sergeant of Company B,
?^-^;;t»--? ihe foUowinor :

i? wiu* at the time of the Middleburg engagement, June 19. 1803. Kilpatrick
' S' ! n;M .Sttiart face to face at Aldie just before this, and there the First Maine
vitly charged the enemy, who had taken position dismounted behind stone

98 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

walls and liay-stacks, while our rei^iment was held in reserve until dark and then
pushed out on picket. It was a very dark night. Newt Nelson and I were sit-
ting on our horses side by side, and we could hear the rebels talking but could
see nothing— could scarce see each other, although side by side.

Next morning we drove the rebels through Middleburg, our regiment follow-
ing the pike leading to Upperville, while the First Alaine took the fields to our
left. On the 19th the Tenth was ordered to drive the enemy from a position
which they had taken on a rise of ground which was covered with timber.
Colonel Avery sent Major Kemper with Companies F and I into the woods on a
charge. Both the company commanders were killed, and in falling back Major
Kemper met our squadron — Companies B and D — going forward. Major Kemper
said : " Don't go into those woods, "Waters ; it's a slaughter-pen." Major Waters
replied, " 1 have orders to go, and I am going" ; and away we went. We found
the slaughter-pen on entering the woods. The rebels were sheltered by the trees
and a stone wall, and back of the dismounted men was a mounted regiment with
drawn sabers. I shall never forget the impression that terrible sight made on me.
The dismounted rebels poured the bullets into us like rain, while back of them
was an unbroken "line with flashing sabers. To go forward meant death to every
one of our little band, and so we wheeled into the open field.

At this time my horse was shot, the bullet passing through my haversack, just
back of my leg. going through the hard-tack in the haversack and into the horse's
side; but he took me out of the woods, and we wheeled into line again and faced
the music on the skirts of the timber. Here Colonel Avery came up with the
balance of the Regiment. Then and there we had a lively game of ball with the
rebs. It was a hot place; but we were equal to the occasion, though the rebels
were sheltered. Just at this critical moment one of the boys came riding up to
me, pale as death, and, seeing my wounded horse, said : "Johnny, a reb struck me
across the stomach with his musket, in the charge we just made, and I can scarce-
ly sit on my horse. Your horse is badly hurt. If you say so, I'll take him and
go back to the wagon-train and you can have mine." I saw at once my_ oppor-
tunity to obtain a good remount, and I replied, "All right, if you mean for
keeps." He jumped to the ground and quickly changed the saddles, and in an in-
stant was on his way to the rear, leaving me with my new horse, with which I
wheeled into line again and joined in the fight.

I challenge the records for another such horse-trade under like circum-
stances.*

The Second New York Cavalry came up to our aid, dismounted, and the rebels
broke from tho cover across the open fields beyond. We occupied the woods un-
til dark, and then had orders to " stand to horse." We, who had been on picket
the night before, didn't relish it, so my tent-mate, Johnny Farrell, and I, arranged
for a little snooze. I tied my newly-acquired little mare to Johnny's saddle, and
he held his horse. By the way, Johnny Farrell was an associate I always felt it
an honor and a pleasure to have. He afterward lost an arm at Lee's Mills. Well,
we were high privates in the rear rank that night. We spread our rubber blank-
ets in rear of the fn)nt rank of horses and went to sloop. It was a very dark,

♦George Uines, of Company A, swapped horses with a rebel while in a
skirmish at Little Washington, August 5. 18G3.

1803 ALDIE WAS REACHED IN SAFETY. 99

rainy night, but I think I never enjoyed a night of sweeter sleep in my life.
When I stuck my head out from beneath the steaming blankets in the moruiu;^', 1
heard the boys discussing the terrible stampede among the horses during tiie
night, of which I was wholly unconscious. Johnny said the horses pulled away
from him, but he caught them and crawled back under the blankets.- It was a
wonder we were not trampled to death. I was greatly refreshed by my night's
rest, and with my new horse was ready for business again, but we had no figliring
that day. I have always wondered why; but next day, the 21st, we were at it
again, and drove the rebels through Upperville to Ashby's Gap. Here Kilpatrick
was heard to say, *'Give me the Tenth New York and the First Maine and I'll
charge the gap ! " The following day we fell back, the rebels following us at a
safe distance, the Tenth covering the rch'eat.

Then followed the march to Gettysburg. My little marc carried me through
that terrible march and battle and over the mountains after the retreating relDcls,
but the tedious service with no rest was too much for her. Her back bcconjiiig
sore, I was compelled to part with her.

Commissary Preston, who had gone to Alclie on the morning of
the 19th for rations for the Keginient, returned with a wagon-load
and came up with the command just after the engagement had taken
place and while some skirmishing was yet in progress. His ardor
and enterprise received a check from Captain Weir, of General
Gregg's staff, who administered a slight censure for tlie presumption
in bringing a wagon upon the skirmish-line ; but the rations were
issued to the men while in line, and as the wagon was about to re-
turn the driver was halted and Commissary Preston sent for. He
was directed to take the wagon to Middleburg and report to Surgeon
Phillips. There the wagon was filled with wounded, and with about
fifty prisoners and a guard of a dozen men the commissary set out
for Aldie late in the afternoon. It was extremely warm, and before
half the distance had been covered a heavy thunder-shower came up
just before sunuov^'n. A halt was made in a beautiful grove, sur-
rounding a large mansion, prior to the thunder-shower. The fact
that the guard was light and the night that was just before us would
be dark and stormy, justified the belief that there might be an at-
tempt on the part of the prisoners to escape. Tlie guard was in-
structed to exercise the keenest vigilance, and not to allow the prison-
ers to remain long together, but to keep" changing their positions as
mucli as x)ossible to prevent any concerted action looking to an escape.
The march was resumed before the storm set in, but the rain soon
after descended in torrents, accompanied by vivid Hashes of liglit-
ning and heavy peals of thunder. The silent march was continued
through woods and marshes, the impenetrable gloom being dispelled
anon by the flashes of lightning, wliich would disclose the presence

100 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALJIY. 18G3

of our cliarge plodding sulkily along, flanked on either side by a
vigilant but weak guard. Aldie was finally reached in safety, how-
ever, tlie wounded and prisoners turned over to the proper officers,
and after a little rest, the return to the Regiment followed next
morning.

Sergeant W. W. Williams, who was at the time orderly to General
Gregg, gives his experience as follows :

After the battle of June 19th, General Gregg sent for me about eight or nine
o'clock p. M. to come to his quarters. He handed me a message, saying he was
going to send me to Thoroughfare Gap to bring up Colonel Taylor with his
brigade. " Read that message until you can remember it," said the General,
" and then hide it in the lining of your jacket or -some other pLace, and if the
rebels get after you and are liable to capture you, be sure you destroy that
message, then if you get through you will know what the orders are and deliver
them." He also said I had better take a man with me. AVith Parker G. Lunt,
of the First Maine, as a companion, I started. We made as rapid progress as
possible, but it was after midnight before we found Colonel Taylor's command.
I asked the Colonel at what time he proposed to move, and he replied, ''As soon
as daylight." Being fatigued, I employed the intervening time in sleep.

As I did not return until morning. General Gregg concluded that I must have
been captured, and he gave orders for a sergeant and twelve men to proceed to
the Gap, but before going half-way they encountered a force of the enemy and
were compelled to return.

When Colonel Taylor, at the head of his command, neared Aldie,
he met the 'First Pennsylvania Cavalry, which had just been started to
go through for him.

The Kegiment was employed in picketing the front on the 20th,
and on the morning of the 21st commenced skirmishing and ad-
vanced steadily toward the Blue Ridge. There was considerable
artillery practice of a desultory character during the day. About
4 P. M. the Regiment was formed in tlie open field above L'pper-
ville, while the First and Second Briijades advanced to encrao^e the
rebel line drawn up in plain view near the village. Tlie beautiful
landscape spread otit before the Regiment was a subject of general
remark. In tlie background was the Blue Ridge Mountains, seem-
ingly but two or three miles distant, with undulating fields of green
intervening, while the little village of Upperviilc lay nestled in the .
valley below, like a babe on its mother's bo>om. The broad expanse
Oi open country was dotted with horsemen, singly and in bodies,
moving hither and thither. The long lines of stone walls seemed
the only barriers to the free manonivring of large bodies of troops.
A depression in the long line of mountains immediately in front,

1863 SCEXE OP KILPATRICK'S FIGHT. 101

with the village on the line, marked the location of Ashby's Gap,
where Longstreet's guns were posted, behind whose friendly cover the
Confederate horsemen w^ere forced to retire later in the day. Away
to the right Buford's troops could be seen pursuing the retreating
Confederate cavalry. Kilpatrick was moving with his brigade to at-
tack Hampton's division, drawn up in front of Uppervilie. Taken
altogether, the panorama was one of the finest and most animating
. ever beheld by the men of the Regiment. And now action is to
follow admiration. Kilpatrick has struck the line drawn up to re-
ceive him. The opposing forces ' appear merged in each other.
Sabers flashed in the sunlight and riderless horses galloped aimlessly
away out of the struggling mUss ; the curling smoke from the rapidly
discharged carbine and revolver partially obscured a portion of the
lines, wdien the Third Brigade was ordered forward. When the
Tenth reached the scene the Confederate line was already, broken, but
the Regiment united in the chase, and gathered in many prisoners.
A line was formed through the village, a part of the Tenth occupying
the position across the main road, while the balance joined in the
pursuit of the enemy toward Ashby's Gap. Then, late in the after-
noon, having driven Stuart's forces to the Gap, our cavalry began
falling back, followed at a respectful distance by the Confederates,
they meantime keeping up an artillery-fire.
Of the XTpperville fight General Gregg says :

... Through Uppervilie the pursuit was continued at a riin, the enemy flying
in the greatest confusion ; nor were they permitted to reform until night put a
stop to further pursuit at the mouth of the Gap.*

Major McClellan, of General Stuart's staff, after recounting the
operations in front of Buford's troops, says : .

While those events were occurring on the north of the Uppervilie pike. Gen-
eral Gregg was handsomely pushing his advance upon the town.f

The same officer gives Stuart's losses in the battles of the ITth,
10th, and 21st at C5 killed, 270 wounded, and IGG missing— a total
of 510 ; and he figures the loss in General Pleasonton's command in
the same engagements at 820.

Fresh from Brandy's well-fought field, the troopers of Buford's
and Gregg's divisions gained additional renown by the series of en-
gagements terminating before Longstreet's corps at Ashby's Gap,

* Annals of the War, p. 377.

f The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 311,

102 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

and the Tentli was authorized to insciibe on its banners the additional
name of Middleburg to swell the constellation of its glorious achieve-
MK'nts.

The retrograde movement commenced on the morning of the
2-3d. The Regiment retired to a point near a mill, between Upper-
villo and Middlcburg, and formed in line on the east bank of Goose
Creek. The rebels, following at a safe distance, brought a battery to
play on it, and the boys were compelled to remain stationary while
the shells whizzed over their heads in uncomfortable proximity, or
struck in the ground about them, until, just about as their patience
was beginning to give out at being set up as targets for the rebel ar-
tillery, an order was received changing location.

The Regiment was kept in readiness for action during the night
of the 22d, on the road between Upperville and Middleburg. The
horses were unsaddled on the 23d, and obtained the much-needed
grooming — the first in five days. Having received orders to report
to General Slocum, commanding the Twelfth Corps, the Regiment
started on the morning of the 24th for Leesburg, where they arrived
about noon. The men felt ill at ease with the infantry. The life
was so unlike that with their own corps, they longed to return, even
before they had fairly arrived at their destination. On the 25th
Sergeant Landers, with fifteen mcQ, was sent to Aldie to bring up
the regimental wagons and mail.

The march northward was commenced on Friday the 2Gth. The
Tenth moved out with the Twelfth Corps, leaving the little village,
tlirough whose streets some of the boys had charged nearly a year
before, in a more quiet and orderly manner than on that occasion.
Cros-ing the Potomac at Edward's Ferry in the afternoon, the Regi-
ment went into camp at Point of Rocks. The march was continued
on the 27th, and camp was made in the evening at Keatorsville, Md.
Tlie following day, Sunday, June 28th, the Regiment entered Fred-
erick, Md., and encamped on the outskirts of the city, where the boys
cooked their suppers over fires made from good, dry loyal rails. The
Union troops were swarming in and around Frederick on the arrival
of the cavalry, and many familiar forms and faces were met by
members of the Jiegiment, The chief topic of conversation was the
cliange in commanders of the army, wliich took place on the day of
th J arrival at Frederick, General Hooker having been relieved, and
General Meade appointed in liis ]»Iace.

AVliile here, on the 2Sth, Stahle's division of cavalry, which had
boon operating about Washington, was assigned to the Army of the

1SC3 ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA LOST. 103

Potomac, as the Third Cavahy Division, and General Kilpatrick
pliiced in command of it.

And here, too, on the same day, the Tentli Y>'as reunited with the
Cavidry Corps, taking its former place in the Third Brigade of the
Second Division, to the great joy and satisfaction of the members of
tlie Regiment.

Tlie Army of Xorthern Virginia liad wandered north and got lost.
The Federal cavalry was started in search of it. Gregg's division
left Frederick on tlie afternoon of the 28th of June, the Tenth en-
camping near Kew Market late tli at night. Then on to New Wind-
sor, where the Regiment bivouacked, after a hot, dusty march. The
30th, Westminster was reached about 10 A. M. Here our First Bri-
gade, under Colonel ]\[cIntosh, had driven a small force of Confederate
cavalry through tlic town early in the morning. There yet appeared
some evidence of the presence of rebels about the place, and the bat-
tery was brought into position in the road above the town, and the
Tenth was ordered forward to support it. Before any shooting was
done, it was discovered that the enemy had decamped. The boys
received a cordial reception from the inhabitants of the beautiful
village, numbers of the pretty maidens tendering the hospitalities of
their homes, and oifering the bronzed and dirt-begrimed veterans
such delicacies as they could procure. A detail under command of
Sergeant Mitchell secured a good supply of corn, oats, and flour from.
a mill near the village. After a halt of a couple of hours here, the
march was continued.

After a time ^Major Avery said, " I think ^ve must be in Pennsyl-
vania." The means for ascertaining were at hand. A blooming little
miss, from a fai-ni-iiousc situated away back from the main road, had
ventured down to the gate to look at. the passing troops.

"Miss, will you please tell us whether we are in Maryland or
Pennsylvania ? " was asked.

" You are in Maryland yet, but the edge of the woods, just ahead,
is the State line," she replied.

" We will cross the line singing John Brown," said Major Avery.
Everybody sang, or attempted singing. It was a grand swelling of
loyal voices in spontaneous accord — a sublime crossing of the thresh-
«*ld into the gr:ind old Commonvreallh whose sons formed so large
a part of the command. ■

lieaching Hanover Junction, a halt was made about noon on
^^ ednesday, July jst. Some of the men, fearing that when the
niarch was resumed it would be in the direction of York, started out

lOi HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGDIEXT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

on the road to Gettysburg, and were gathered in by the provost-guard
when the column overtook them later on.

The march Avas resumed through clouds of dust and the burning
Tiiyti of a July sun, and the command reached Hanover village at mid-
night. The inhabitants loyally brought forth such provisions as they
had, and gave to the weary soldiers. It was learned from them that
Kilpatrick liad met Stuart's cavalry the day before, just outside the
village, and had a severe iiglit. This was verified by the leveled
fences, dead horses, etc., seen when the Eegiment resumed the march
early next morning.

Sleepy and tired the command started toward Gettysburg at
3 A. M., July 2d. Reaching the heights, some three miles east of the
village, about noon, the Regiment halted and dismounted on the
south side of the Hanover road. A rail fence on the opposite side of
the road was leveled to give free passage for mounted troops. This
had an ominous look, and chilled the ardor of some of the men, who
were expecting to visit friends in Gettysburg.

Surgeon Lyman W. Bliss, of the Tenth, was in charge of the field-
hospital at Hanover at the time the fight between Kilpatrick and Stu-
art took place. During the engagement the Doctor noticed a regiment
or detachment give way, and then he saw that they appeared to be
without an officer to lead them, and, turning to a fellow-surgeon, he
said : " Those fellows have no officer with tliem ; let's go and lead
them," and, discarding all insignia of the medical stalT, they each ob-
tained a saber and sailed in, urging the men forward to renew the ac-
tion, but tliey appeared somewliat demoralized and refused to stand
when another charge was made, but broke, leaving the gallant quinine-
dispensers in the hands of the enemy. After making the acquaint-
ance of some of the Confederate leaders, who undertook the useless
task of drawing some valuable information from them, they were pa-
roled after being retained two or three days. The old adage was
peculiarly applicable in this case, '^ where ignorance is Bliss," etc.

The reports of the conflict raging in the direction of the town ad-
monished the impatient ones that it would be necessary to defer the
visit to their Gettysburg friends to a more convenient season. The
men therefore threw themselves upon the ground under the burning
rays of the sun and patiently awaited orders, while tliey discussed the
situation, etc.

Jolin ]\l'adole, of Company I^, was perhaps the first man from the
Regiment to enter Gettysburg. As he was a member of one of the
new companies, and therefore not with the comnuuid during its stav

1863 SOUNDS OF THE RAGING CONFLICT. 105

in the town in 1801-'G2, it must have been love of adventure rather
tlian woman that took him there. lie was in the town when I3uford's
cavalry passed through its streets out to Seminary rddge on the 1st of
July. He made a very complete survey of the quaint little village,
about which he had heard his comrades say so much. On leaving the
borough he was arrested as a spy and taken before G eneral Kilpatrick.
The General questioned him closely for a few moments, when, con-
vinced that he was a member of the Tenth, he ordered his release.
He gave much valuable information, which the General afterward
acknowledged to Major Avery.

106 HISTORY OF TUE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

CHAPTEK VI.

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN" CONTINUED — ON THE RIGHT FLANK AT
GETTYSBURG — TO HARPER's FERRY.

HE intervening timber yeilcd the regiment-
al pariide-grounds of 1SG1-'G2 from view, as
ic also screened the inano?uvering of the Con-
federate cavalry, when preparing for the
• movement to the Union right flank on the
succeeding day. But the men of the First
and Second Battalions of the Tenth were
confident that ju.st over the hill and beyond
the wood lay tlie ]nxrade-grounds where ver-
dant officers had endeavored to manoeuvre the
Regiment of verdant soldiers many months before. Tiie efforts to
"form close column on fifth squadron" generally resulted in forming
close columns of confusion, to got out of which the men were com-
pelled to " pass defde to the rear." The grounds were now inside the
enemy's lines. It seemed almost like a dream to the boys that they
should find themselves back again near tlie old ]Kirade-grounds after
an absence of eighteen months, replete with hard service. When
the Tenth halted and dismounted, as alreaily stated, it was on the
south side of the Hanover road, n^ar tlic Keever iiouse. Major Avery
and the regimental stall availed themselves of the very economical
shade afforded by a superannuated peacli-troe. Here they lay npon
the ground speculating on ilie possibiUties of meeting old acquaint-
ances in the village, who were '' so near and vct so far," and also of
meeting other friends (?) wlio had cunie so far and were quite too
near.

Soon after the arrival of tlic command r;« ar tlie Keever house the
squadron composed of <'om]»:H!i> .s H and L wwa ordered forward to
relieve the Union infantry line of skirmishers on lirinkerholf's KiJjre.
During tlie afternoon this force, toeetlu'r wiili a mounted soundron
in the road, under coinmiHid of Maj-a- Kcin|~»cr, were driven back.

* .1

tviSirlt^..^/

.^I^le^i^s^^vib

BATTLE MONUMENT OF THE TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY,
GETTYSBURG, PA.

1863 ON THE RIGHT FLANK AT GETTYSBURG. 107

and two more squadrons were advanced on the right and the balance
of tlie Regiment on tlie left of the Hanover road.

Colonel William Brooke-Rawle, formerly of the Third Pennsylva-
nia Cavalry, in his admirable address, delivered on the occasion of
the unveiling of the shaft marking the scene of the cavalry engage-
ment on the right flank on July 3, 18C3, says in regard to the opera-
tions of July 2d :

Gregg's column closed up near the intersection of the Hanover and Low
Dutch roads about noon of July 2d. Two regiments of infantry belonging to
the Eleventh Corps were found in the advance, deployed as skirmishers along
Brinkcrhoil's Ridge, which crosses the Hanover Road nearly at right angles,
about two miles or more east of Gettysburg. In their front there was a consid-
erable force of Confederate infantry. About three o'clock the L^nion infantry line
was relieved by the Tenth New York Cavalry regiment of Irvin Gregg's brigade.
and Rank's two guns were unlirabered and loaded in the middle of the Hanover
road on a hill near the Reever house. The oificers and men of the command
sought what rest and shelter from the scorching heat they could, while from the
hills they watched the conflict between the infantry and artillery of the opposing
armies. Some of the men groomed their horses to freshen them up ; some allowed
theirs to nibble the rich clover; while others, thoroughly worn out, tried to obtain
a little sleep.

The same writer also states * that the section of Rank's battery,
which did such excellent service on this occasion, joined General
Gregg's command on the 29th of June. While en route from Fred-
erick to Baltimore, its march was intercepted by Stuart's column,
moving northward between the Army of the Potomac and Washing-
ton, and Rank, with his section and escort — Captain Duvall's troop
of Maryland cavalry — barely escaped capture by falling back and
uniting with Mcintosh's brigade, near Poplar Springs.

Without question the Tenth was the first regiment from the
Second Cavalry Division to engage the enemy on the right flank at
Gettysburg. This is recorded by Colonel Brooke-Piawle, in his ad-
dress already referred to :

During the afternoon there was some skirmish firing between the opposing
lines, and about six o'clock Colonel Irvin Gregg ordered fifty men of the Tenth
New York Cavalry to advance -dismounted and clear the front. A regiment of
Confederate infantry was at once sent out to meet them, and drove back the
small party of cavalrymen. Suddenly a jxirty of the enemy appeared on the top
of Briukorhoil's Riilge where it crosses the Hanover road. In a second Rank's
men were at their guns, and put two shells into the midst of the party, causing
the Confederates to fallback instantly under cover of the ridge. "To hor-el"

* In Philadelphia Weeklv Times, February 2, 1S81.

108 HISTORY OF THE TENTH R:EG1MENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

sounded at once, and the Third Pennsylvania, advancing at a trot along the road
toward Gettysburg, formed close column of squadrons in an orchard back of the
Cress house. Tlie first two squadrons were quickly dismounted to fight on foot,
advanced at a run, and in a few minutes were deployed at close intervals as skir-
mishers on the summit of the eastern spur of Brinkerhoifs Ridge north of the
road. The Purnell Troop and two battalions of the First New Jersey, under
Major Janeway and Captain Boyd, followed, and deployed dismounted on the left
of the road on the prolongation of the same line, with the Third Battalion under
Major Beaumont in reserve. A strong, well-built stone wall ran along the top of
the ridge on the right of the road, with a field of tall wheat just ripe for cutting
on the other side of the wall. This w^all was the key of the position, as each of the
contending parties at once perceived, and by the time our men reached it a line
of Confederate infantry was seen making for it at full speed. The fire of Rank's
guns had delayed the enemy's advance for a sufficient length of time to enable us
to get there first, and give a withering reception with our breech-loading carbines
to the infantr\-men, who were not more than twenty feet ofi! from the wall when
we reached it.

After vainly attempting to drive our men back, the enemy retired to a more
sheltered position, along the edge of a piece of woods some two hundred yards
distant, where he remained until after dark, the opposing forces and Rank's two
guns meanwhile keeping up a brisk firing. Later in the evening the Confeder-
ates, taking advantage of the darkness, turned our right unobserved, and dis-
lodged a portion of our line, which, however, was re-established after some
trouble. . . .

About ten o'clock in the evening the line was withdrawn, and the two brigades
moved over to the Baltimore Turnpike, where it crosses White Run, near the
position of the Reserve Artillery, and there went into bivouac, in accordance with
orders from Cavalry Corps headquarters, to be available for whatever duty they
might be called upon to perform on the morrow.

Sergeant B. W. Bonnell, of Company H, writes as follows :

When we arrived on the field, July 2d, p. m., our squadron. Companies H and
L, were placed on the right of the Hanover road on skirmish-line with our left
resting on the road, the line extending northerly to a piece of woods. The reserve
was quartered in a door-yard. There was an orchard at the rear of the house.
About 4 P.M. our line was broken by an attack from the rebel infantry, and we
fell back across the road to our left. During this movement William Potter, of
Company H, was wounded. As we came into the road I saw some of our men,
who had taken refuge behind some rocks on the left side of the road, surrounded
by a party of rebels and taken prisoners. We fell back a short distance and
formed line again on a road running south from the Hanover road. That night
we retired to the rear of our infantry line.

As we were going into position that afternoon we met the family vacating the
house I have referred to, the women carrying articles of bedding, etc. The man
had a bag full of 'oread, meat, etc., while the children were laden down with hats
bonnets, shawls, boots, shoes, and other wearing apparel. We found some
mackerel which they had left in a tub of water at the well. The boys took some
of these, but would not take the chickens that were runnin'^ alx)ut. I believe

1863 CAPTAIN LOWNSBURY ACCOUNT. 109

there was nothing taken by the boys excepting the mackerel. They did not feel
like disturbing anything the poor people had left.

The detachment sent forward by Major Avery in the afternoon,
in obedience to General Gregg's orders, consisted of the squadron
composed of Companies E and K, commanded by Captain Benjamin
F. Lownsbury. Another squadron— Companies B and D — were sent
to the support of Captain Lownsbury's squadron later, taking position
on his right. In the advance of the first squadron the men bore so
far to the right that the line became thinned out, the left resting on
the Hanover road. This threw Companies B and D far to the right,
on Brinkerholl's Ridge.

Captain Lownsbury mentions the part taken by his squadron as
follows:

Soon after noon we arrived near the battle-field of Gettysburg, via the Han-
over pike. We had been sitting on our horses and lying on the ground on the
left of the turnpike all the afternoon, until near sundown, when an aide galloped
up with orders for Major Avery to send a detachment from the Regiment to
Brinkerhoif's Ridge to drive back some advancing infantry skirmishers. I was
near Major Avery at the time. I was cleaning my revolver. I heard the order
to the major to " send a force to drive back those sharpshooters up there " (the
aide pointing to the ridge). The squadron of which Company A was one was
commanded by Sergeant Mitchell. Major Avery directed him to move out with
his squadron, but on Mitchell's statement that there was no commissioned officer
in his squadron, the major turned and ordered me to go with my squadron — Com-
panies E and K, commanded respectively by Sergeants Morey and Torrey. I
immediately dismounted the men, leaving every fourth man to hold horses, and
started forward with twenty-seven men. When we reached the summit of the
ridge we came to a rail fence. The sun shone directly in our eyes, rendering it
difficult to observe anything going on in front. I ordered the men to lie down
for a few moments, until the woods in our front might shade the sun ; but just
then I noticed some of the mounted men from our regiment going ba,ck in the
road pretty lively, and I concluded they had found something they didn't
want.

Two regiments of the Stonewall Brigade, under General Walker, then charged
upon us, and 1 gave the command to fall back. Company E was on the right and
K on' the left of my line. The firing was very rapid, and as we fell back through
a small piece of woods, closely followed by the rebels, we attempted to clear a
fence in our line of retreat. Just as we got over, a corporal of Coinpany E was
killed, and I was slightly wounded in the leg. I was immediately surrounded by
a numerous crowd of rebels, who escorted me just over the hill to a barn on the
right of the Hanover pike, which proved to be General Walker's headquarters.
He asked me what the force was over the ridge, and I replied that I hadn't the
remotest idea. E. G. Dow, of Company K, was captured at the same time I was.
We were moved from place to place, ofttimes under fire, but were finally taken to
the rear of the Confederate army.

110 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

Sergeant E. G. Dow, who was taken prisoner with Captain Lowns-
bury, furnishes the following version of the affair :

It was perhaps four or five o'clock wlien we wero ordered forward to drive the
rebel sharpshooters out of the trees along BrinkerhoJT's Ridge. The woods, our
objective, were somewhat to the right, and, as we obliqued, the men on our left
appeared to maintain the direct march to the front, so that our line became quite
attenuated. Captain Lownsbury was on the right of the line. As we reached
the brow of the hill we encountered a fence, the left of the line striking it first,
and we began jumping over. As we rose up in clearing the fence we disclosed
ourselves to the rebels, who were lying just over the hill, and they opened a rapid
fire on us and immediately advanced in greatly su{)erior numbers. As we at-
tempted to fall back we were suddenly surrounded by the rebels and made pris-
oners. We were taken back to General Walker, commanding the Stonewall
Brigade. I remember his being seated on a rail fence, in rear of his command.
Eis language and bearing were dignified and gentlemanly. lie asked the Captain
about our forces, which the Captain declined to aub'.ver. The General expressed
his belief that they woiild win in the impending battle, as our troops were tired
out from forced marches and discouraged by repeated reverses. We were marched
back a short distance, where we remained until after sunset.

Sergeant (afterward Lieutenant) A. J. Edson, of Company D,
writes as follows of this engagement :

Our squadron, composed of Companies B and D, was ordered forward to assist
Captain Lownsbury. We were placed on the right of his line, Company D join-
ing his right and B on the right of D. Both these companies were small and did
not extend the line very far. Our squadron had a very livt-ly skirmish on this
occasion. We were in the open field, and the enemy occupied an old building in
our front. It was early evening. The only way we could protect ourselves at all
was to lie flat on the ground as possible, and every shot from the enemy had the
efTect of making us flatten ourselves, in imagination, at lea-t, a little more. There
was an incident which occurred near me, however, that made me forget for the
moment my peril. Hiram Iladilen lay on the line near me. He wore a large
white hat, which attracted the attention of the Confetlerates.and he was receiving
more than his shar.^ of lead. He finally gt)t mad. arsd jerkirig the hat from off his
head he jumped to his ft>et and fired every cartridge he had at the enemy. Their
fire was concentrated on him, but he finally walked ofT unharmed. His example
had a salutary elTect on the other-^. Jimmy Van Allen, seeing Hadden. sprang to
his feet also and began blazing away, hut became vexeil and impatient because his
carbine wouldn't go off, after snapt'in? s^^vt-nU caps. I suggested to him to try
another cartridge, and on removing liie one in the carbine, he found only the
shell. The carbine h;>d respoiuhd to tlie first fail of the hammer. Jim said, with.

a disgusted look, " What a d d fiH'l I an\ ; spoiled six caps and haven't hurt a

cussed reb I "

There was one {>oor fellow in the company who was a constitutional coward. I
resolved to make him stand up t" the work, an<l :'fatione<l Bob Evans on one side
of him and Joe McKeeghan behind hirti, wiih instructions to see tliat he kept in
his place. No sooner did the firii:g conuuenct^ on the line tiian off went this fel-

1863 LIEUTENANT JAMES MATTHEWS WRITES. m

low's carbine, straight up in the air! "Hold on, there!" shouted Evans, "there
ain't any rebs up there; you'll kill an angel !" I finally sent him to the rear, as
I was afraid he would shoot some of our own men.

Joe McKceghan was badly wounded there soon after. Lieutenant Truman C.
White, who commanded our squadron, was entitled to great credit for his coolness
and judgment in handling the squadron on that as he did on all occasions.

Sergeant (afterward Captain) David Fletcher relates his expe-
rience on the 2d of July in the following way :

On the march from Uanover my horse gave out, and I left him with a farmer.
When I reached the Regiment it was lying on the left of the Uanover road, near
the cross roads. I obtained permission from Major Avery to go to the front,
where I hoped to pick up a horse.

1 took my bridle and started across the fields south of the road and soon
passed some cavalry pickets. When I reached the hills, about a quarter of a mile
south of the Hanover road and in front of our division, I heard picket-firing to
my right and rear. I did not think for a moment that my position was unsafe.
I crossed the summit of the hill to the west side and, in company with a civilian,
was looking out upon the battle in the valley below. Suddenly some one called

out, " Halt, you d d Yank ! '* and looking up was surprised to see a line of

rebels within a few rods of me. Jumping from the rock, I ran southward, giving
the alarm. After helping to gather some wounded and played-out infantrymen
and get them to places of safety, I pushed out for the Regiment, which I found
near a bridge. That night I went foraging, and returning at 2 a. m. on the 3d,
called up Companies F and M and fed them.

Lieutenant James I^Iatthews writes :

I was in command of Company F at the battle of Gettysburg. I was sent by
Major Avery to support Captain Lownsbury with Company F, mounted, about 4
or 5 P.M., on the 2d of July. When we reached the top of the ridge the bullets
flew very thick, and 1 ordered the company to fail back under the brow of the hill.
A little later M.njor Avery came riding up in a rage, and demanded to know who
ordered the company back. I told him I did. Just then we received a volley,
and the Major commenced to dodge, and he said to me, " You ought to have done
it before."

Lieutenant (afterward Captain) B.B. Porter writes from San Fran-
cisco in regard to the Gettysburg engagement of July 2d :

I was acting as adjutant of the Regiment at the time of the battle of Gettys-
burg. I was with General and Colonel Gregg, on the south side of the Hanover
road, on the evening of July 2d, when I received orders to post pickets on the
north side of the road. Who posted them on the south side I do not know. As
soon as I had established the pickets they were driven in. The rcijimont at the
time I put the pickets out, at dark, was on the south side of the Hanover road.

Companies C and G formed the line on the south side of the
Ilanover Road, during^ the afternoon and evening of the 2d, the first
named joining the right of tlie Twolftli Corps near tlie base of Wolff's

112 IIlSTO!iY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

"ilill, aud tlio b.-ilter forming the prolongation, with its right resting
on tlie Hanov.rr Uoad. Conipin\io3 A and ]\I were held in reserve.
Of the ojirraiiojis south of the Hanover road, on the 2d of July,

Burgcant John .V. Freer, of Company M, says :

After Mfijor Waters had taken his command into the field, on the south side
of the Ilanovi'i- road, near BrinkerholFs Ridge, he called for five volunteers to go
with Iiim. SiH'wrd. of Company M, and three other men besides myself, started off.
After going a fev/ rods toward our riglit, the Major said that General Gregg de-
sired to find out vv-hethcr the enemy were in our front, in force. I told the ]Major
i: lie would v.iiif I ^vonldgo through the woods and find out. Secord volunteered
tc go with me. \Ve passed through the timber and came to a seven-rail fence,
bf-yond which was an open field. AVe had been there perhaps five minutes when
tho rebels came into the open field before us and formed in line. I told Secord to
"k'.ep a watcli on tlietn, while I reported to the Major, who asked me how many I
thought there were. I replied that I thought there was a division, at least. He
t'^Id me to watcli tljc-m, but not to fire, unless attacked, as the orders were not to
bring on an v/igagoment if it could be avoided. I rejoined Secord, with the other
three men, wliile tiie 3Iajor started off to report to General Gregg. We had just
settled down behind the fence when twenty-five or thirty rebs came almost
straight for the pla^e vro occupied, I think, intending to tear down the fence ; an-
other party, of about the same nuinV)er, going toward tlic cross-fence to our left.
The boys were re^rloss and wanted to open the ball, but I ordered them to hold
their fire. Wlicn llie rebs were within eight or ten rods I gave the order to fire.
Bteord said, aitcoTs-ard, that I gave the order to " Give 'em h — I !" Anyway, from
the manner in v,hjch the riderless horses dashed about, and the whole lot scam-
pered ofi, they must have thought th-ey had struck the open door to sheol and
found everybody at home. About the same time the party to the left had torn
d-.wn the fence, and the dismounted cavalry or infantry were marching through.
Tho sharp crack of th.e carbines on the left satisfied me that there was going to be
rii^isic by the full b;!nd. There was considerable tumult aniong the troops on the
opposite side of the field, following the repulse. Then a line of battle was formed,
and with their celel>ratcd "Ki-yi!" they charged on us. All our carbine ammu-
nif ion was gone, so I ordered the boys to give them the contents of their revolvers
and fall back. When we started it fairly rained lead. 1 was never in such a
shower of bullets before nor since. As we went out of the timber a shell came
^^liizzing over our heads, crashing through the trees, among the rebs. The gun-
ners had the range perfectly. I have always wondered why our battery did not
coniiuiie the shelling. The race was kept up until we reached the creek, into
which \ve tumbled, pretty thoroughly exhausted. We found our clothing riddled
with bullets. One had just grazed the inside of my right leg and lodged in my
i)oot, another struck me on the inside of my loft arm, which bled profusely. Se-
cord bound it no with his handkerchief and poured water on it, wiiich soon
■M.O:)ped the ilow. It whs getting dark ; we did not know wht>ro the Regiment was,
S(; we lay down and remained till morning, when we rejoined it on the south side
of ihe Hanover road.

And W. E. Phelps, of Company ]M, furnishes the foUowing :

18C3 SOME INTERESTING INCIDENTS. 113

It was about 4 p. m. when we mounted and went down the Hanover road,
crossed a small stream,* and turned into a field on tlie left. There we formed,
squadron front, and a call was made for one hundred men for sitecial service.
There was a ready response of, I think, ninety men. Captain John G. Pierce was
in command. We moved to the left in an oblique direction until we reached
a narrow piece of woods, when we were halted to await the coming of Major
Waters, who was in command. After a few moments Captain Pierce told us to
sit down and remain quiet while he went to find the Major. Soon after the
Captain left, the skirmishers in onr front began to be hard pressed, the bullets
whizzing around us, until the boys became impatient, and they were advanced to
the skirmish-line. There we found Lieutenant McKevitt, of Company G, in
charge of the line. I spoke to him, as I was personally acquainted with him, and
heard him order the line forward just before the rebels charged us.

Here these t\vo squadrons continued on duty until the line was
called in late at night preparatory to the movement to the rear of
the right of the army.

Hospital steward (afterward Lieutenant) Walter Kempster men-
tions some interesting incidents in a private letter to the liistorian,
among them the following, which is published by permission :

You know, at Gettysburg I had not yet received my commission, and 1 was, so
to speak, free-footed, and, having an inquiring turn of m.ind, gathered in all I
could of the fight.

Roaming about as usual, I went up to our picket-line, which was actively en-
gaged, on the afternoon of July 2d. It now seems to me as though our regi-
mental skirmisli-line extended south of the Hanover road a short distance. My
reasons for tliinking so are these : I rode up to the skirmish-line on horseback;
our men were dismounted and their horses were in the rear. They wore posted
on the crest of a ridge and on the edge of a piece of vroods (left of the road) and
on the right of the road they were protected only by bowlders, etc. Wliile I was
watching son^ie of our boys on the left who were drawing fine beuMs on the
Confederates in front, a long line of rebel infantry en me out of the woods on our
right flank ; they were not skirmishers, but were in line of battle. They delivered
a volley and started down the hill. So did I ; but they outlianked me and I
presume thought I was somebody of importance, and they kept blazing away at
me in a desultory way. I was hanging on to my horse, my left arm and leg
thrown over his neck and back, my body sheltered by his body. As I drew near
the little creek a section of our battery opened on the line of Johnnies and they
flew to cover. I was by the side of the section at the second or tliird shot, and
the officer in command congratulated me on my escape. Some of our men on the
right were hurt, but the men on the left fell back to their horses, when, seeing the
enemy driven back by the battery, they returned to their first position. After
the fighting ceased, on the evening of the 2d, I went out with ambulances to get
the wounded and was fired upon. The firing was continued until I was com-
pelled to leave the field.

Cress's Run.

114 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1803

Late that night, or early on the raorning of the 3d, when wo had taken posi-
tion on the right of the infantry line, a portion of the Twelfth Corps formed
some distance in rear of our skirmish-line and advanced in line of battle. They
halted at our line, apparently surprised to find skirmishers in their front.

The scene at night, as from the elevated position occupied by the
Regiment, the men looked upon the flashes from the artillery and
saw the bursting shells over the battle-field, was grand and impress-
ive.

The skirmishing continued until long after dark, when Gregg's
Division was withdrawn to the south side of the Hanover road, and
thence to the rear of the Twelfth Corps, near the Baltimore pike. A
part of the Eegiment went on picket, encountering the Confederate
infantry again.

The troops confronting the skirmishers of the Tenth on Brinker-
hoff's- Ridge were from the celebrated Stonewall Brigade (Stonewall
Jackson's old command), constituting the left flank of Johnson's di-
vision of Ewell's corps, which was making preparations for the assault
on the position held by the Twelfth Corps, and the result of the sharp
skirmishing on the part of our cavalry compelled General Johnson to
move to the assault without the assistance of this veteran brigade. In
his report. General Johnson says, in reference to the movement against
the Twelfth Corps:*

General Walker was directed to follow, but, reporting to me that the enemy
were advancing upon him from their right, ho was ordered to repulse them and
follow on as soon as possible. The opposing force was larger and the time con-
sumed longer than was anticipated, in consecjuence of which General Walker did
not arrive in time to participate in the assault that night.

The following is an extract from the report of General Walker,
commanding the Stonewall Brigade : f

About 6 p. M. our line was advanced in a northerly direction, and took position
immediately on the north side of the Hanover road. In this position, our left
flank being harassed by rlie enemy's sharpshooters posted in a wheat-field and
wood, I ordered Colonel Nadcnbousch with his resriment (the Second Virginia) to
clear the field and advance into the wood, which he did at a single dash, his men
advancing with great sjurit, driving the enemy's skirmishers out of the clear
ground and following them into the woods.

When he had advanced some distance into the woods, the enemy opened on
his line with two pieces of arriiU.'ry, and he fell V)ack into the clear ground again,
leaving skirmishers in the edge of the wood, and reported that the enemy had a

* Olficial Records, Series I, vol. xxvii, Part II, p. 504.
X Ibid., p. 518.

1863 THE TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY MONUMENT. II5

large force of cavalry (supposed to be two brigades), two regiments of infantry,
and a battery of artillery.

Colonel Nadenbousch reported three men wounded in this skir-
mish.

The monument erected by the State of New York to mark the
site of the engagement of the Tenth Xew York Cavalry on the riglit
flank, on the 2d of July, 1863, is located on Brinkerhoffs Eidge, on
the north side of and near the Hanover road. The general design
was suggested by Lieutenant H. E. Hayes, at the time President of
the Tenth New York Cavalry Veteran Association and chairman of
the Monument Committee, who labored zealously and untiringly in
securing its erection, ably seconded by others of the committee. It
is a work of art, of which, together with the advanced position which
it occupies as marking the ground held by the Ecgiment that day,
the members of the Tenth Kew Y^ork Cavalry may well feel proud.

The monument consists of a rectangular pedestal, six feet by four
feet six on the ground, and nine feet high, surmounted, by a horse's
head in bronze three feet high. The foundation-cap, of native Get-
tysburg granite, shows six inches above ground. Its sides are rock-
faced with margin draft, the vrashes hammered. The base stone, of
Quincy granite, is rock-faced on the sides, with hammered washes,
and bears on front and rear faces a bronze reproduction of the cavalry
corps badge. The die is also of Quincy granite, finely hammered.
On the face in raised polished letters is the record, as shown in the
illustration. Above this is the State coat-of-arms in bronze, which
also appears on the rear of the stone. The horse's head, which is the
most distinctive feature of the monument, is from a spirited model by
Caspar Buderl, tiie noted Xew Y^ork sculptor, and recalls in its treat-
ment the celebrated examples in the frieze of the Parthenon.

The whole work was furnislied by the New England Monument
Company, of Xew Y^ork, and cost fifteen hundred dollars.

Amid the whizzing and banging of shell and the sharp rattle of
carbines and muskets, a portion of the Kegiment spent the night of
the 2d on the skirmish-line, the balance remaining on reserve at a
large barn on a hill farther toward the Baltimore pike.

Before leaving this place on the morning of the 3d, a quarrel oc-
curred between Charley Cutting, of Company G, and an infantryman
as to who was entitled to the plunder on the person of a prostrate
rebel. Charley had got about everything but his false teeth, however,
and the infantry soldier was re])roving him for robbing a man before
he was dead. "Well," retorted Charley, "you may rob a dead man,

116 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY., 18G3

but ril not disgrace myself by doing it ; I think it's bad enough to
rob a live one ! "

The morning of the 3d Gregg's troopers were again in the saddle
and moving back to the position vacated the night before on the
Hanover road, where General Custer's brigade, of the Third Cavalry
Division, was found disposed along tlie Hanover and Low Dutch
roads. General Gregg placed his First Brigade, under Colonel John
B. Mcintosh, on General Custer's left, and the Third Brigade, under
Colonel J. Irvin Gregg, still farther to the left along the Hanover
road. The Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of the Third Brigade,
was advanced dismounted as skirmishers in the direction of Gettys-
burg, encountering the Confederate infantry, whom they drove back,
and succeeded in establishing connection with the Twelfth Corps
near the base of "Wolf's Hill and extending the line on the right
to the Hanover road. About noon General Gregg was apprised of
Stuart's movements by a dispatch from General Howard to General
Meade, saying that from his (Howard's) position on Cemetery Hill
he had observed the movement of a large body of cavalry toward our
right. This dispatcli was forwarded by General Pleasonton to Gen-
eral Gregg. Except for the many lines of fences, the country occu-
pied by the forces under General Gregg was well adapted for an
engagement between mounted troops. The Low Dutch road crossing
the Hanover road at right angles near the Howard house, and run-
ning north to the York turnpike, distant about two miles, traverses a
slight ridge for some distance. The same road running south inter-
sects the Baltimore })ikc about two and a half miles from the Howard
house. About a half mile west of the point where the Low Dutch
road crosses the Hanover road is another road starting southward
near the Reever house — the point where the Tenth dismounted on its
arrival from Hnnover, the 2d of July.

Stuart, screening his movements by the woods to the south of the
York road, upon v.liich he advances, seeks to gain the Baltimore pike
by following along the base of Cress's Ridge to the rear of the Army
of the Potomac, where he hopes to create a panic and thus make a
diversion in favor of Pickett, who will soon launcli his division against
the L^nion left center in one of the most heroic chtirges of the war.
Major ]McClelIan says : *

Stuart's ol>ject \vas to jrain position where he would protect the left of Ewell's
corpsv, and would al^^ be able to observe the enemy's rear, antl attack it in case the

* Cauipai^s of Stuart's Cavalry, p. C;?7.

1SG3 MAJOR McCLELLAN'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE. II7

Confederate assault on the Federal lines were siicccssXiil. . He proposed, if opjxjr-
tunity offered, to make a diversion which might aid the Confederate infantry to
carry the heights held by the Federal army.

After marching about two and a half miles on the York turni)ike, Stuart
turned to his right by a country road which led past the Stallsmith farm, to "a
commanding ridge which completely controlled a wide plain of cultivated fields
stretching toward Hanover on the.left, and reaching to the base of the mountain
spurs, among which the enemy held position."

This was the northern extremity of Cress's Eidge, tlio woods on
which hid the Confederates from view. At the moment of Stuart's
arrival, Major McClellan asserts that " the scene was as peacefu] as if
no w^ar existed," and that "not a living creature was visible on the
plain below." If, as has been frequently asserted, the Confederate
cavalry leader hoped to gain the rear of the Army of tlio Potomac
unobserved, by moving along the base of tliis ridge, his actions at this
time appear strange, as i\Iajor McClellan states that, " while care-
fully concealing Jenkins and Chambliss's brigades from view, Stuart
pushed one of Griffin's guns to the edge of the w^oods and fired a
number of random shots in different directions," etc. Major ]\[cClel-
lan says : " I have been somewhat perplexed to account for Stuart's
conduct in firing these shots." *

This appears to be at variance with the account given by the
Comte de Paris, who says : f

At three o'clock in the morning Stuart, leaving the positions ho has occupied"
to the right of Rock Creek and north of the York road, follows the road which
leads from the York road to the Reever house. He thus covers the. left of the
Second (E well's) Corps, and reaches the extremity of Brinkerhoff's Ri<lge. Rap-
idly ascending the summit of this ridge, he perceives the enemy's cavalry posted
along the slopes upon which stands the Reever house. He at once proposes to
separate it from the right of the Army of the Potomac, and to strike the road to
Westminster between the bridge over Rock Creek and that over White Run, a
stream which receives the vratcrs of Cress's Run a little before reaching this road.
In order to accomplish this it is necessary for him to conceal his movement from
the enemy and detain him in the vicinity of the intersection of the Hanover and
Dutch roads. Sheltered behind the high ground of Cress's Ridge, vrliile a screen
of skirmishers occupies the edge of the woods, which cover a portion of them,
and at the same time keep oil those of the enemy, the Confederate troopers will
be able to reach the Baltimore turnpike unobserved. Witliout waiting for the
issue of the great struggle, they may be able to create a panic in the rear of tlie
Union army, the effect of which will be decisive on the battle-field. Stuart puts
Chambliss and Jenkins's brifrados, which are with him, on the march alomr the

* Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 3ll8.
f The Battle of Gettysburg, p. 223.

118 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C3

western slopes of Cross's Ridge. Fitzhu^h Lcc and Hampton have remained be-
hind, near the York road. He sends thoni un order to join him by following
closely in his tracks, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy.

The troops which Stuart has seen near the Reever house belong to- Kilpat-
rick's division. After sunset of the previous day, Gregg being summoned back
by Pleasonton, has loft his position in order to take another in rear of the army.
He has bivouacked near the bridge over White Run, on the Baltimore road; but
in the mean time Kilpatrick, returning from Hunterstown, and finding the im-
portant highway from Bonaughtown unoccupied, has left Custer's brigade there.
On the morning of the M, Gregg having been ordered to advance again, so as to
cover the right flank of the army, has proceeded along Cress's Run, south of the
Hanover road. He thus keeps in view the eastern slopes of Wolfs Hill, on which
Stuart must debouch if he passes beyond Brinkerholf's Ridge. On learning of
Custer's presence near the Bonaughtown road lie sends him word to go into posi-
tion on his right, which seems to him to be much exposed, and to extend his line
in front of the Reever house. Although he has been ordered by Kilpatrick to
repair to Two Taverns, Custer complies with Gregg's request. Stuart thus has
three brigades in front of him, numbering aliuut five thousand troopers. He has
himself no less than six thousand sabers in the four brigades placed under his
command. He knows nothing of the |)osilion of Gregg, who will, doubtless, soon
discover the march of Chambliss and Jenkins. But this march is interrupted
from the beginning by an unforeseen incident : Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee, im-
prudently showing to the enemy a portion of their forces, have unmasked it.

Btit Major McClellan, in mentioning Stuart's action iii firing a
gun belonging to Griffin's battery, as already quoted, says, "This,
quite as mucli as the subsequent appearance of Hampton and Fitz-
hugh Lee in the open ground to the left, announced his position to
the enemy's cavalry." Stuart was well ])leased with the advantageous
position he occupied, while " the Union cavalry had none of the ad-
vantages ckimed by Stuart for his own."*

All was quiet when, about noon. Colonel ^Iclntosh moved his
brigade upon the ground to relieve Custer's command, but there were
evidences of trouble brewing, as the enemy were reported in consider-
able force in the woods beyond the Iiummel buildings. Colonel
]\IcIntosh, believing the most eHective way of knocking the chip off
the other fellow's sliouhler was to hit him in tlio nose, promptly took
the initiative. About two o'clock the First Xew Jersey, under Major
Beaumont, was sent forward mounted, and a strong skirmish-line
was at once deployed from the Iviimnnd buildings to meet them.
The Jerseymen disinounu*d and to^k ])(><itiou behind a fence, while
two squadrons of the Tb.ird Pennsylvania, under Captains Rogers and
Treichel, were deployed dismount^/l t«» their left, and the squadrons

Histori. ;d Address by Col-ncl Brooke-Rawle.

18G3 mVIN GREGG'S BRIGADE IN RESERVE. HQ

of Captains Miller aud Walsh advanced mounted, on the right.
Pennington's battery now opened v/ith damaging effect on the enemy.
Major McClellan says : ** The fire of these guns was most accurate
and effective. The first shot struck in Griilin's battery, and shot
after shot came with such precision and rapidity that Griffin was soon
disabled and forced to seek shelter."

At the time that Mcintosh moved to the relief of Custer, who v^as
about to rejoin the Third Division, in compliance with General Kih
Patrick's orders, General Gregg A/as with Irvin Gregg's brigade, on
the Hanover road, near Cress's Run. At the first sound of conflict he
hastened forward, and meeting Custer, turns him back to the assist-
ance of the First Brigade, until the Third Brigade can be brought
up. \Yith the instinct of a true soldier, Custer responds with alac-
rity, and, moving his tried battalions back, disposed them in support
of Mcintosh's troops, now actively engaged. Colonel Gregg, leaving
the Sixteenth Pennsylvania on the skirmish-line from the base of
"Wolf's Hill to the Hanover road, as already stated, moved with
the balance of the Third Brigade to the south side of the Hanover
road, near the Spangler house. Here the brigade remained in re-
serve during tlie engagement between the opposing cavalry forces, in
momentary expectation of being brought into the action. Custer's
brigade had become so far enlisted in the battle, however, by the time
of the arrival of Irvin Gregg's regiments, that it could not be with-
drawn, even if it had. been deemed advisable to do so. Thus the
Tenth escaped tlie hand-to-hand fighting of that day. It becomes
no part of the history of the Regiment to record the details of tliat
brilliant encounter, but, as constituting a part of tlie Second Division
of Cavalry, the m.embers of the Tenth take a just pride in having
contributed to the general results of the operations of that division
on the right flank at Gettysburg, which gave additional luster to its
already well-earned reputation for gallantry and reliability. The
Tenth suffered the loss of some men wounded by the enemy's shells,
while lying in reserve.

The final result of the battle was the withdrav/al of Stuart's forces
to the woods from which they issued at the beginning of the con-
flict. The Rummel farm-buildings, originally in the possession of
the enemy, were inside Gregix's lines at the close of the fight.*

With the retirement of the Confederate horsemen to the cover of

* This is maintained by Colonel William Brooke-Ruwle, and denied by Maj )r
MeClclIan.

120 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C3

the woods, the action of the day practically ended. Pickett's assault
on the Union lines west of Cemetery Ilill, made almost simultaneous-
ly with this engagement, had failed, and darkness settled down upon
the dreadful scene of carnage. Desultory picket-firing continued
well into the night.

The force under General Gregg in this engagement consisted of
the First and Third Brigades of the Second Cavalry Division, com-
manded respectively by Colonels John B. Mcintosh and J. Irvin
Gregg, and the Second Brigade of the Third Cavalry Division, known
as the Michigan Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General George
A. Custer, numbering, all told, about five thousand men, only about
three thousand of whom were actively engaged. Colonel Gregg's
brigade remaining on reserve, as already stated. Opposed to this
force was the entire Confederate Cavalry Corps, commanded by
General Stuart in person, numbering between six and seven thou-
sand men.

The official records give the following losses in Gregg's division,
July 2d and 3d, and Cu.ster's brigade, July 3d :

Killed.

Wounded.

Captured
or 3iissing.

i
1

COMMA^'D.

^1 i lg

o ; w

i
%

rs
II

July -Jd.
MclNTOsirs Brigade :

First P(>nnsylvania

Third Pennsylvania

Gregg's Bhioade :

First Maine

Tentli New York

Sixteenth Pennsylvania

••

"2
2

••

3
4

1 1 1

.. i 3

2 1- 9

•.. 1 6

Total Gregg's Division, July 2d

..14

12 i 1

J\tly 3d.
McIntosr's Brigade :

First Marvlancl

First New Jersev

.. i 9

First Pennsylvania

1 i 1

Third Pennsvlvania. .

Gregg's Brigade :

First Maine

Total Grc^rg's Division, July 3d

Custer's Brigade, July od ........ . ....

.. ! 1 1 7
1 i 28 11

10^ ..
112

8
67

35
010

Total on right flank, July 3d

1 ' 29

131
31

75 1 254

Total Gregg's Division, July 2d and 3d.

.. i 5 1 7

1863 GENERAL STUART'S LOSSES. 121

General Stuart reported his losses on July 3(1 at one liundred and
eighty-one, exclusive of the losses in Jenkins's brigade, and his horse
artillery.*

On tlie 15th of October, 1884, a handsome and imposing shaft,
erected on the scene of this engagement, was dedicated. On this
occasion Greneral D, McM. Gress: said :

•'bo

On July 8, 18G3, we stood on this field, armed men, to resist the advance of
an enemy with whom we had made trials of strength ofttimes before, and of late
at Brandy Station, Aldie, Middleburg, and Uppervilie. Our gaze was directed to
the northward as we watched the approach of the columns of the enemy. Right
gallantly did they come sweeping on, with such well-aligned fronts and with such
tremendous pace that it seemed as though nothing could sttmd against them.
There was a meeting of the Mue and the gray, and for a time the issue was held in
the balance. The struggle was ended by the retirement of the enemy to his start-
ing-point, discomfited by failure, with ours in hot pursuit. Severe as was the
engagement it could not be asserted that the Union forces that participated were
never in a severer. These fought too many battles in that long war for such a
comparison. But all will agree they never fought on a fairer field. Neither party
asked nor expected aid from the main armies beyond. Our enemy had the advan-
tage in numbers and position ; we the moral advantage of fighting on our own
heath. It can be safely said that on no other field did Union cavalry, whether on
foot or in the saddle, do more clTcctive and brilliant fighting than on this. Had
it fought less well here, the victory would have been with the enemy rather than
with us.

Surely the cavalry is entitled to honorable mention in connection
with the great battle of Gettysburg. It was Buford's gallant troopers
who received and withstood the first fierce onslaught of the Confed-
erates on the 1st of July ; it was Gregg's and Custer's tried squadrons
that struck the final blow and administered the last chastisement to
the audacious and confident enemy on the evening of the day of Lee's
humiliation.

But as the report of musket and carbine was blended along those
hills in the determined effort for tlie mastery, so may the songs of
praise and rejoicings of a loyal people ever be to the glory of the
Union soldier, without distinction as to the arm of service to which
he was attached.

On the evening of the 3d, immediately following the closing of
the conflict, the Tenth was sent to picket the section of country in
the immediate front of the Confederate cavalry. Sergeant Hayes, in
charge of a detachment from the Regiment, was sent to picket the

* The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 340.

122 HISTORY OF THE TEXTU REGIMENT OF CAYALKX 1803

woods tlirougli which the Low Dutcli ro:uI runs. 8er:!:'-''^'^t AY. K.
Harrison, of Company 11, writes concerning i^ickct duty at ibis time :

The hardest night's service I ever experienced was v-liile on picket after the
battle of Gettysburg. 1 was assigned to a post with one man. Uh^ii v. c arrived
at the post the man sank down and went to sleep, and no amount of kicking or
shaking could bring him out of his slumber. I took hi.- place, and vA] lluit weary
night 1 kept moving to keep awake, running from the prostrate tMi i:i (,f my com-
rade to a certain fence and back again continually. I would f: 'ji.ci.uly run
against the fence and be brought out of my sleep, and then back t>'. ilic olher end
of the beat, to fall over my sleeping associate. Wo weiv relieved jnsi before day-
break, and wht'U I reached camp 1 dropped down and instantly went to sleep.

The Ivegimont remained on picket until near noon next d.-iv, July
4th, when the Third Brigade was started in pursuit of the reti-eating
rebel army, the first organized body of Union troo]).s that passed
through Gettysburg after the battle.

On the afternoon of the 3d a foraging party from tlie Tenth,
under command of Commissary Preston, went in the diixction of Lit-
tlestown, securing some corn, oats, and German anatlicmas. In the
evening a hea^y thunderstorm came up, "wliilc the paity v.ore taking
an inventory of the available assets of a seemingly pros} erous German
farmer. The spacious barn on the premises became a lion ;e of refuge
for the boys. Once inside, the horses were tied loose uitli heads to
the hay, while the men lay down to rest under the sootliitig iniiuence
of the patter on the roof. Some of the men linally sallied forth in
quest of food. The humble domicile of the lord of Iho manor was
visited and the women at once began transforming f.oiir into green-
backs. Every morsel of food was sold to the boys, at exorbitant
prices. Then onions were brought in from the gurdcu, and when
some of the boys declined to pay the prices demanded t'lc. females
poured tlie vials of German wrath in luxui-iant })rofr;,-i';u on the de-
voted heads of the nation's defenders, and tli'.y fell luu 1. co the barn.
Xear midnight the sergeant in charge of the pickets c-niie in and
reported rel)el cavalry approaching. The rain was falling in torrents.
AVlien Lieutenant Preston reached the road it was filled from fence
to fence with a motley assemblage. All Germany was aioiisvd. Women
and children bearing great bundles of elotlriiig and l-edding were
jostled by men and animals on every side. A ruTuor liad gained
credence that Stuart was on a raid to the rear of tlio Tiii'm army.
The bewildered farmers were seeking places of safety I'ov ihoir live-
stock, but, not kiu')wing from wliich direction the ndders v/ere ap-
proaching, their indecision to " move on " had residted in a iam at

1863 REFUGEES KETURNIXG TO TOWX. 123

this particular point. It was an indescribable scene. The vivid
flashes of lightning gave occasional glimpses of the caravan, which
was made up of men, women, and children, horses, cows, and pigs,
from wliich there arose a confusion of voices and noises like unto the
roaring of the ocean in a storm.

The following morning the party started on the return to the
Regiment,' going via the Baltimore pike. Just after starting out
quite a number of infantrymen were observed under an old shed by the
roadside. ^listaking the cavalrymen for a mounted patrol gathering
up stragglers, some of these infantry boys started for the fields, but
discovering their error, returned to their rendezvous, which presented
the appearance of a tramps' headquarters. Some of the men were
evidently members of the Eleventh Corps, as they displayed an im-
ported dialect and the crescent badge. They claimed that their term
of enlistment had expired ; they were ex-crescents of the army, as it
were. They appeared to have lost their es2)rit de corps, and were not
making a very vigorous search for it.

Soon after passing them a party of refugees were overtaken re-
turning to their homes in the village, from whom it. was learned that
the Confederate army had fallen back, leaving the village in possession
of the Union forces. Among the refugees was Charles J. Tyson, the
photographer, well known to many of the men of the Tenth. On
reaching the village it was found that the Regiment had just passed
through, going on the Chambersburg road. Lieutenant Preston ac-
companied Mr. Tyson to his residence and afterward visited the pho-
tograph gallery with him. Underneath one of the windows of the
gallery a shell, wliich must have been fired from a Confederate battery
northwest of the town, was partly imbedded in the brick wall. Other
familiar scenes and friends were visited, and many of the members of
the Regiment had embraced the opportunity for doing the same.

" Are you a Porter Guard ? " asked a small boy of a bronzed cav-
alryman who was passing by. An affirmative answer was followed
by an invitation to dinner.

AVith all the trouble and turmoil with which the good people had
been environed they had kept green the memory of the '• Porter
Guards," and welcomed tliem again to their homes.

^fany interesting reminiscences are related by tlie citizens of the
town of the eventful days of June and July, 1SC3. In tlio former
month General Early passed through the village with his division on
his way to York. Tliis is mentioned bv the citizens as " Earlv's
raid."

124 HISTORY OF THE TENTH KF.GL-^IENT 01'^ CAVALRY. 18G3

Tlie quiet of tlie little village was disturbed ])y j o^oated rumors
of the near approach of the Coiifedcratc army for sc\(:ral days prior
to its arrival. Indeed, tlie cry of " AVolf ! wolf 1 " luid been heard so
frequently that it had lost much of its terror; hut on Friday, June
26th, the oft-repeated story that the reljcls were coiiring was renewed
with an emphasis and earnestness that threw the ciLixons into an un-
usual state of excitement. Not only wore the rebels reported coming,
but the locality and direction were indicated, 'ii-'ey were surely
approaching on the Chambersburg road. The ciii/.ou.s crowded to
that part of the borough which w(.>uld afford au ojvpurtunity for a
verification of the rumors. Presently the liead of a coiiunn of troops
marching in regular order appeared above the crest of Semina-
ry Ridge. Then anxiety was gradually displaci^l by curiosity. It
was a question in the minds of the gathered tiirung of citizens
whether they were really rebels or Union troops. Soon, however, a
large flag — the stars and bars — came into view^. This was the sig-
nal for a general scamper of the men, women, and children to
their various homes to prepare for the reception hy secreting valua-
bles, etc.

The on-coming cavidry soon filled tlie principal strcei.s of the vil-
lage, preserving good order and discipline. Their c'.ddierly conduct
was reassuring, and soon the people came from tiieir houses and'
mingled with them iu conversation.

Soon after General F^arly reached the borougli h;> v.VddQ a formal
demand on the village authorities for sixty barrels of flour, seven
thousand pounds of ]tork and bacon, tv;elve Iniii.h'cd pounds of
sugar, six hundred poinids of cofteo., one thoii:;nio po.iuds of salt,
forty bushels of onions, one thousand ])airs of sii (><■<, five hundred
hats, or, in lieu of the foregoing, five thousajid dolbirs in money.
Mr. David Kendlehart, as president of town conn'^'ls and acting
burgess, returned a written refusal to comply witli use demand, and
sent it by John Burns, v\djo by his subsequent brave action in taking
up arms in defense of his country and home at tlio tune of the battle
became known as the " hero'of Gettysburg." Burn^ vas at the time
town con>table, and tlie giving of the document to him to deliver to
General F^arly invested the transaction vrith sonurliing Ol an official
character. Burns found General F'arly sitting on his horse near a
pump on Baltimore St]'*/ct, not far fruni tlie Dianioni^, a^'ound which
was a crowd of thirsty soldiers. The jnuii-r was jn'ompily served on
the General, who carefully looked it over from undei his slouch hat,
and handing it back, lie said: ''All ri'^lit; ITl see my commissary

1803 INCIDENT OF THE "HERO OF GETTYSBURG." 105

about it."* Tliis was the last heard of the matter until Gciirral
Early's return from York to participate in the great battle, when Jir.
David Ziegler, one of the substantial citizens, meeting him, spoke of
the demand and the physical impossibility of complying with its
terms at that time. The General smiled grimly as he replied : " I
suppose so; but if I had not been in such a hurry the next moi'iiing
I would have found a way of gettiiig what I wanted." But it never-
theless stands to the credit of Mr. Kendlehart that by his prompt
and decisive stand the town was saved from an onerous tax.

During the time the Tenth was stationed in Gettysburg, old John
Burns was daily at his work making and mending siioes in Mr. Ken-
dlehart's building, opposite the court-house and adjoining the post-
office. Many of the boys resorted to the old man for a better " under-
standing," and those acquainted with his character were not sur]>rised
at his course when the hour arrived for decisive action. Indeed, the
old man's patriotism had early manifested itself in an attempt to
enter the Union army in the regular way, but his age prevented.
Age, however, did not prevent his going out with a musket as an
"irregular," and joining a Union regiment when the rebel army
approached his native town in hostile array. There he fouglit until
wounded, when, giving the rebels a " last " shot, he threw his gun
from him, and escaped capture by assuming the rule of a citizen
caught between two fires.

In ISS-i the historian addressed a letter to Mr. Tyson, recounting
some incidents of the battle, and received the following in reply :

Floka Dale, Pa., Janicary IG, ISSi.
N. D. Preston, Esq., Bradford, Pa.

Dear Friend Noble: Yours of the 9th instant caine duly to hand whilo I
was in Baltimore and reached me on Saturday last, and. to make amends h'V tliC
long time I kept you waiting before. I sliall answer thi-^ at once. You ce)l;;i.nly
have a very good memory, though I shall have to correct it a liitle bit, and, if tiiis
epistle should seem to you disconnected, never mind that, but )>ick out of if any-
thing of value to you and let the balance go. I shall only write what I know to
be fact.

About three o'clock on Friday afternoon, June 2Gth, my wife and I were put-
ting down the last carpet in the front second-story room in our little house on
Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg (we had just commenced housekeeping— were
married April 30, 1S(>}), when we heard an unusual noise. Upon looking out tlic
turnpike toward Chand)ersburg, we saw the advance of EwcH's corps, consisting
of numerous mounted men, some with hats, some without ; some in- blue and some

* Both General Early's order and the mcssago refusing fon)r)liuncc are in the
possession of Mr. Kendkdiart, who retains them as souvenirs of the "Early raid,"

150 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OE CAVALUV. i^.j;3

in gray. On, on they came, and as they dasheil past the house and np jnio the
town they rent the air with yells, at the same time dischar,^'-!!)^^^ their car^ilu ■:• u;ul
pistols into the air. Following them came t)ie mass of infaniry, which Alhjtl ihe
road from side to side, and when they reai-licd our house iu.I pjissed on Lho ^;oli(I
mass extended to the top of Seminary Rid':::c, and still on tliey t ame. rri-.s*j)'i]y
the word *' Halt ! " was given. "Stack arms! "next. So thuy l)alto<.l and they
stacked.

We had taken the precaution to loel: the front door and vurd gate, atid v/ere
looking out through the Venetian shutters — seeing but unsfoii. We lioai'd t-sem
trying the door, and heard one fellow spell out from the dour-plate "T-v-^ ■--ii :
wonder who the devil he is?" and at the same time begari eli'-ppiiigon iJjj ,- ; :,i 'jr
door, and I said to my wife: "There's no use trying to k^'cp tliem out ii' they
want to get in ; I will go down and open the gate." I did so, ;oid said to ti!a:Ti :
" You look warm and dry; we have a will of good cool water in here; c-.-iTi'/iji
and refresh yourselves." They came right along without a jhcoiuI invi'raticu^ ruul
then they wanted bread and butter, but wo told them we did ij^t have e-'juu-Ji to
commence on, and they were satisfied far more easily than I expected; wer/ \.^ry
polite and gentlemanly. One, a German, a.-ked wliere Joe Hooker was ; s.-nd they
were after him, and would have him if tiiey had to go to rii;];!.do]phia for jdm. J
would like to have seen liim a week later. This gang passed on lo York, tiuix :iext
day the town was clear again. One straggler came in and v.as promptly captured.

On the following Wednesday nioridrtg, July 1st, I arose to lind Ge''dy:;,l,u]g
swarming with Union soldiers, and the 'stores all open and doing bu.-!n;'ss. I
opened the gallery and went to work, and was kept very busy till near too, o'dock.
I had made an exposure, and the room was full. 1 went into tl;o work-ru "';.) ..; "'u-
ish the picture. Whoji I returned the mom was ejnjity, cxc'e[<t'ng the one j ri-on.
He offered me in pay a r.ote I could not change. 1 ran dowu-.^tairs to goi el .mge.
■when, to niy surprise, all the stores were closed and no one to l^e seen. I g.ive the
man his money, and he disappeared. Judge Russell turned the corner jusi th'n
and I asked. " What d<>es this mean i " He atiswered, " h nuans that ; 11 eaizons
are requested to retire into tiadr houses r,s (luietly arul as (luiL'kly as possi'^le," and
off he went, and oil I went up-slairs and iraiii.Tvii.up a fo\^- valualilcs and ;^la)ird
for home. V,y tlie time I reached the opp',..-ite side of tlie S(,;uaic 1 met; ii}- v,!;e,
who was condng to sec what had becojne of jne. It was il'-n betweer. •. u iid
eleven oVloek. 1 returned witli her to our hinise. She iutd a -mall tru'ik i-aeked,
which contained our wedding suits and s^uie valuables.

The cannonading was tlicn going on in good earnest, and tlie people livirsg oa
ChamV>ersburg Street were advised lo go farther up town. We i'H-ked up tlie liouse
and I put the trunk on a wheelbarrow audi started, (u-ing a .-iiort distance 1 uiet
our neighV>or, Mr. Buy'iv who had a sprinc: \^a':^m. onvir-'d, aiid in it his mother-
in-law, wdio sat upon SMHte trunks. lie very kitidly p-erniifi d ^\ e to put my trunk
on, which I did and tufid'l.di my Itarrow M\er into Mr. f 'hril niiaTi's yard. We all
went upon I>alt:m*^re Sin-;t are! romain'-d th-re until aoout : vo o'clock. In the
mean tinu^ the churches were b<Mfig liind with wounded n:..n and the pavetneids
were lined with tho-e slightly wound-d, .Several b!o<-ks of .:n;»turt\l rebels pjissed
out lialtimoro .Street and I concluded t.» -■■, (i,,\vn h<.mo ;uid i ring up a b:.>k.d of
fresh br»'ad to di^thlaife tt* tlie stddier-- toiy \\ ifo had Itak^.l a k-irge o^nai'tuy tlie
davlni'fore or lliat im-rninc; but Nshen I c-l ri.arlv i\r.\su r,;

3 -■!

■^^<^»£^'

.,#^*^

i^ -^

.\.

^«, ■^-.v.-''*

OSCAR WOODRUFF,

('omnii>s;iry-S(rm';nir, N. ('. S.

Afti'i'wanl Fir-t l.ifut.iianr, Co. F.)

JOHN E. COWLES,

Il..si.it;il Stfuar,i. N. i '. S.

(AlttTward Fir>t Linilciuuit. Co. A.)

SERGT. BELA BURZETTE a-d SERGT. JOHN VAIL, Co. B.

W. W. TACKA3URY,
lios^pital ^<tt■^'.a^(i, N. L. S.

HERBERT E. FaRNSWORTH,

SiiL'';ii\t Major, \. r. S.

(At'iiiuar.l Captain. Co. B.)

18G3 LETTER FROM C. J. TYSON. 127

of our officers riding up the street, warning all women, children, and non-com-
batants to leave the town, as General Lee intended to shell it.

This caused quite a stir, and the streets were full of people hurrying to and
fro preparing to leave. Suffice it to say, I did not go for the bread, but I did go
for my wife. We kept in company of our neighbors, the Boyer family, and went
out the Hanover road, crossed the bridge over Rock Creek and went on to Daniel
Benner's on the hill. Before we got there it rained in torrents, but having an
umbrella we did not get very wet. We remained there till the rain was over,
when I proposed to Mr. Boyer that we leave our trunks in the cellar and put our
wives in the wagon. This he consented to do, and on we went to Littlestown, ten
miles south of Gettysburg. Mr. Boyer's son and I walked. Next day we went
out the pike toward Gettysburg as close as we could go safely. Next day, Friday,
I met Moody (I think). He said he had passed the gallery the day before, and it
was, to use his language, " gutted ! " and ray house, he said, still stood, but every-
thing was destroyed. My all was there, and you can perhaps imagine my feelings
better than I can describe them. In the mean time I learned that the house at
which our trunks were left was within rebel lines, so that ail (so far as I could
learn) was gone, except the well-worn suit on my back.

Therefore it was not strange that I should feel very good upon entering my
house to find nothing wantonly destroyed. My secretary was ransacked and the
contents scattered over the room. In the parlor we found a small heap of ashes, the
residue of burned letters and papers, the forms of the envelopes still preserved on
the top of the pile. Upon removing the ashes we found the carpet uninjured, and
after the carpet was swept no trace of the fire could bo found. The carpet, which
was Brussels, remained on the floor in constant use until we sold the property, in
1867, and I presume still longer, as we sold it with the house. We found several
bundles put up ready to be carried off, but which were left behind, xlll my cloth-
ing was taken and several rebel suits left in place. With this exception we missed
very little, indeed, outside of the cellar and pantry, which was pretty well cleaned
up. Your recollection of the barrel of flour is correct to a fraction. You remem-
ber we entered the house in the rear — the front door being locked just as I left it.
Or did I unlock it and enter from the front ? Indeed, I would not be sure about
that. But the door was locked and the front parlor windows open. Yes, we
found the gallery undisturbed. The wife of Lawyer Wills claimed to have pre-
vented the men from going into the gallery by telling them it was dangerous.
They, however, entered the cellar and emptied a barrel of ninety-five per cent
alcohol. I had a gross of eight-ounce bottles there also, and they were seen carry-
ing these bottles out filled with alcohol.

The shell has never been removed— h still there just as it was, ready to blow
somebody up perliaps some time or otlier.* A minie-ball passed through the back
window, which was raised, passing tlirough both panes of glass, cutting a round
hole through the first pane, without cracking the glass. In the next pane the hole

* The barrel of flour referred to had been placed behind the cellar-door by 3Ir.
Tyson, on leaving )iis house. To look behind this door a person would be com-
pelled to go down the steps to close it; which, it appears, no one thought of
doing. The shell alluded to may be seen, partly imbedded in the brick wall of
the building on the south side of York Street, near the public square.

128 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

was much lar<jer and the glass cracked. The ball then passed through an inch-
pme partition and lodged on its side on the opposite side of the room, half im-
bedded in another partition. I covered this with a glass case. It was still there
when we left the place a few years ago. We found our trunks safe and sound.
Mr. Benner and his wife retreated to the cellar when the rebels took possession of
the house, and made their beds on our trunks and in that way saved them for us.
In its proper place I omitted to say that on Saturday morning, July 4th, a rebel,
who had evidently overslept himself, was seen coming out of my house with an
overcoat on his arm. He was very promptly arrested and the overcoat afterward
returned to me. It proved to belong to my brother, who lived with us at that
time. G. J. Tyson.

The night of the 3d of July the Confederates were gloomy and
crestfallen. Every effort to break the Union lines or turn the flanks
had been unsuccessful. Their losses were enormous ; their ammuni-
tion and supjDlies well-nigh exhausted. The Union-loving people of
the Tillage noted their dejection and Avere not slow in guessing the
reason. The sj^irit of the Confederate army was broken ; that the
contest would not be renewed on their part was plainly evident. It
was not, therefore, a great surprise to the observing, intelligent citi-
zens to find the village comparatively deserted by Confederates on the
morning of Independence day. It was desirable that General Meade
should be informed of the situation of affairs, and Mr. David Kendle-
hart, who had left home early in the morning with his sons, John L.
and J. William, aged twelve and nine respectively, on a tour of ob-
servation, decided to seek the commander of the Union army after
having satisfied himself that the Confederate army had really fallen
back. Going out upon Baltimore Street toward tlie cemetery, they
were stopped by Mr. George Arnold, an officer of one of the banks,
who informed ]\rr. Kendlehart that it would be impossible to get
through to the Federal lines, as he as well as all others who had
attempted it liad been turned back. Mr. Kendlehart, however, mani-
fested a determination to make the attempt, and Mr. Arnold accom-
panied them. Unchallenged, they passed inside the Union lines, and
were beset with inquiries from the anxious oiliccrs and soldiers. When
Mr. Kendlehart announced that the Confederate army had fallen
back, the news was received with every demonstration of delight. An
officer who was present requested them to go with him to General
Meade's headquarters, in a grove south of the cemetery, near the
Taneytown road, which they did. A number of officers were in tlie
GeneraFs head<]uarters at the time of their arrival, evidently discuss-
ing the x>i'oblem which Mr. Kendlehart was prejiared to solve for
them. General ^leade gave the gentlemen immediate audience, and

1863 SUFFERING FROM HUNGER. 129

exhibited great surprise and pleasure when informed that the Con-
federate army had certainly fallen back, thanking them again and
again. It was the first definite information he had received of the
important event.

Passing through the village, the Third Brigade marched out upon
the Chambersburg road, passing over the battle-field of July 1st,
strewn with the dead Union soldiers. The road was littered with
broken and abandoned wagons, caissons, muskets, clothing, etc.
War's devastation was more clearly shown on this route than any
upon which the Tenth had ever marched. Squads of Confederate
soldiers were met with, plodding dejectedly along toward the place
where their valiant conduct had challenged the admiration and re-
spect of their adversaries. Some were under guard, others marched
without. They were, generally speaking, a surly, uncommunicative
lot. Every building that would alford shelter from the storm or pro-
tection from the burning rays of the sun was filled with Confederate
wounded and stragglers. Late at night the Tenth went into camp
at Graefenburg Springs. The greater part of the Regiment had been
sent back to Gettysburg during the day as guards to rebel prisoners.

Corporal E. G. Fish relates that Company K hud but four men
present for duty, and when the commanding officer of the Regiment
gave the order, " By fours, march," Sergeant Torry would command,
" Company K, forward march ! "

Of this day's march Lieutenant B. B. Porter says :

Our advance-guard commenced bringing in rebel prisoners as soon as we
reached Seminary Ridge. With every squad of fifty prisoners two men were sent
back as guards. When the Regiment reached Cashtown, I think Avery, Graves,
Preston, and myself were the only commissioned officers with the Regiment. 1
had the management of the prisoners. I think over three thousand were sent
back under guards furnished from the Tenth. At Cashtown I was kept busy fof-
a long time searching rebel prisoners. I had quite a stock of knives, pistols, re-
volvers, etc. As soon as the men sent as guards rejoined the Regiment we fol-
lowed after, and soon came up with the rest of the brigade.

The suffering from hunger was probably never greater in the
Regiment than while on this march. Men ate corn from the ear,
birch-bark, anything that would appease the gnawings of hunger.
Finally^ the commissary, taking a few men, started out in search of
food. It was an almost hopeless task, as the rebels liad made a pretty
clean sweep of everything in tlie line of grain and provisions. Forag-
ing parties and stragglers were to be seen in every direction ; but,
nothing dismayed, the commissary brought his small command to a
0

130 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C3

halt in tlic yard of a cozy farm-house and was about to institute an
investigation when the lord of the manor, a bright-appearing young
fellow, made his appearance, and smiling said, " Want something for
the horses to eat?"

" Yes, we would like something to fill the vacancy in both man
and beast," was the reply.

" See anything in there you want ? " he asked, as he swung open
the door of a large empty corn-crib. The commissary shook his head
dubiously.

" The rebels didn't, cither ; but what you want is up there," he
said, pointing to a scaffolding, on which was some straw. " You see,
I put that straw up there as a blind," he continued, " and on the
straw I spread some sheets and put my oats on them. Those rebels
were too dumb to think of such a thing or too lazy to get a ladder to
investigate."

He brought a ladder, and there, sure enough, was something to
" make a horse laugh " — a great pile of bright oats, which the young
farmer insisted the commissary should clean up, refusing to keep
enough to supply even his immediate wants. As the detachment did
not have forage-sacks enough to hold all the oats, the loyal fellow
brought out sufficient bags for the purpose; and just as the party
were about to start off, one of the men came running from the house
bearing a loaf of bread of immense proportions. The commissary
hastened to the house and secured a duplicate loaf, together with a
liberal supply of cheese, for none of which tiie ladies would accept
payment. This relieved the commissary from an embarrassing posi-
tion ; he had but twenty-five cents. It was quite late when the Regi-
ment was overtaken, but the horses of no regiment in the brigade
had a better feed that night. The bread and cheese was distributed
in dainty parcels, the small number of men in the Eegiment at the
time making it possible for each to receive a ration. Some cherries
were found along the line of march during the day. A well-loaded
cherry-tree would break up the column more effectively than a well-
loaded battery, and would prove equally effective in placing the men
hors cle comhat. Reaching Chambersburg on the evening of the 6th,
the Regiment was marched through the town and into a meadow of
clover and encamped- Jenkins's brigade had found it convenient to
vacate just before our arrival.

Resuming the march on the 7th, Quincy was reached in the even-
ing, where the Regiment went into camp during a hard ruin-storm,
which prevailed all niglit; then again on the 8th to AA'aynesboro,

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1863 FIRST UNION TROOPS TO CROSS THE POTOMAC. 131

going into camp in the mountains at 8 p. ir., and to Micldletown on
the 9tli, encamping late in the evening. Here the Eegiment re-
mained, doing picket duty until the 11th, when it was again set in
motion at noon, and settled down at Boonesboro the same night. The
severe strain and lack of forage to which the animals had been sub-
jected in the forced marches over the mountains told seriously on
them. A large number were condemned in the Tenth on the 12th.

Rain fell again from the 12th to the 14tli in sufficient quantities
to make the roads soft and pliable. On the latter date the brigade
broke camp at Boonesboro and marched to Harper's Ferry, where it
crossed at 5 p. m. on a pontoon bridge and established camp on Boli-
var Heights, the first troops from the Army of the Potomac to reach
Virginia soil after the battle of Gettysburg.

132 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

CHAPTER VIL

FALL CAMPAIGN, 1S63. — FROM HAP.PER's FERRY TO WINTER
QUARTERS AT TURKEY RUN, NEAR WARREXTON.

ARPER'S FERRY, romantic, pictur-
esque, and historical, presented sufficient
attractions to keep the boys of the Tenth
busy during tlie short sta}- of the Regiment
there. Maryland Heights, the Gibraltar
of America, towering sublimely into the
■ clouds on the opposite side of the river,
the rushing waters of the two mighty
^-1^' streams, the Potomac and Shenandoah,
""^ which come together at its base, the ruins

of the extensive United States Arsenal, the long bridge of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad which crossed the Potomac at this point, and
the broken nature of the surrounding country, all combined to render
a scene at once beautiful and impressive. Ten months to a day before
the arrival of Gregg's cavalry at Harper's Ferry, Colonel B. F. Davis,
of the Eighth Xcw York Cavalry, who was killed at Brandy Station
on the 9th of June, 18C3, refusing to comply with Colonel Ford's
terms of surrender of Maryland Heights, marched out with fifteen
hundred cavalry, under the cover of diirkness, and not only succeeded
in escaping from the beleaguered stronghold, but captured a part of
General Longstreet's ammunition-train and took six hundred and
seventy-five prisoners, while en route to join the Army of the Potomac.
The scene of old John Brown's imprisonmcTit and brave defense
in the engine-house, and the ruins of the vast United States Arsenal,
were visited by the boys. It was here that Generals Lee and Stuart
first came prominently before the country: the first as a colonel in
the United Suites Army, sent to capture Brown and his associates;
and the latter as a lieutenant of cavalry in the same service, who
held the parley with Brown, and gave the orders for the assault on
the cncrine-house.

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MAJOR THECDCRE H. WEED.

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SURGEON LYMAN W. BLiSS

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LIEUTENANT SYDENHAM GAIT.

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CAPTAIN JOHN ORDNER.

18C3 "DINNERS FO' 1)E HANDS." 133

Boots and saddles came with tlie dawn of day on the 15th, and at
six o'clock the march was taken up in a westerly direction. After pro-
ceeding some distance, Major Avery espied a lone liorseman, away ofT
on the flank. Supposing him to be a rebel scout or bushwhacker, the
Major ordered a detail to go out and bring him in. Before the dc-Uiil
started, however, Debold, the Major's orderly, suggested caution in
approaching him, as he knew him to be well armed — with quinine
and powders. It was Dr. Clarke, the genial regimental surgeon, bo
of an investigating mind, whom Major Avery designated as " The
Great American Flanker."

Just before reaching the village of Shepherdstown, two or tliree
ambulances were captured, together ^ith the drivers and small esco^-ts.
These fellows assumed a very wise demeanor, winking and smiling as
questions were asked them in regard to the rebel forces, etc. It was
quite evident, however, that the Confederates were in force near by.
Continuing through the town. Lieutenant King, the A. C. S. oi the
brigade, issued quantities of captured bacon to the men as they parsed.
To the disgust of the boys, both they and their horses became bo-
smeared with grease from the juicy meat, but they drew some conso-
lation from the thought that perhaps the horses, like the wagons,
needed greasing after so long a march.

Passing through the town the regiment turned into a meadow,
where the horses were permitted to eat of the rank clover, while the
men lay down to rest. Major Avery, with some other officers of tJie
regiment, sought the shade of the stone wall which extended along
the roadside. After remaining here a few moments, reclining on
the grass. Major Avery arose, and' looked over the wall into the road,
as if expecting some one. Sure enough, there was at that moiiicnt
passing an old negro on horseback. In his front. and rear were im-
mense bags dropping down on either side of his liorse, stuffed full of
something. " Hold on, there," said the Major ; " what have you got
in those bags?" *' Dinners fo' de farm-hands," replied the friglit-
ened old man. " Bring them up here," was the next order. The poor
old darkey was so perplexed he hardly knew what was said to him,
but a second sharp order brought him to his senses, and the bags
were thrown over the walls. Great loaves of bread, baked sweet
potatoes, pickles, etc., gave evidence that the farm-hands were to liavo
had a good dinner, both in quantity and quality. ]Major Avery liad
the food equally divided and distributed to the companies.

Nothing unusual occurred during the night. The following
morning, the IGth, one battalion, under command of Major AVaters,

13i HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

cousisting of Companies 11 and L, under Captains Peck and Yander-
bilt, and C and G, under Lieutenants Sceva and McKevitt, respect-
ively, Tvere sent to picket the Winchester pike. At the same time
Captain Pierce, with Companies K and M, was sent to picket the Dam
No. 4 road ; the bahmce of the Kegiment, under Major Avery, picket-
ing the Martinsburg road.

About noon the squadron under Captain Peck was furiously at-
tacked, his outposts driven in, and the reserve thrown into confu-
sion. Fortunately, the First Maine Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Smith, wTre just coming up, on their way out to obtain forage.
Colonel Smith instantly took in the situation, and so disposed his
regiment as to give the rebels a reminde.r*.of Brandy Station, Aldie,
and Gettysburg. Lieutenant Sceva's post was first attacked, but the
enemy were temporarily checked by his squadron, when he retired
without loss. Captain Peck's squadron was then charged by an over-
whelming force just as the First Maine came upon the scene, as
stated.

Sergeant W. X. Harrison, of Company H, says :

Captain Peck toM me to ^et back with my old horse. As I was going to tlie
rear, I met General Gregg going toward the front. He inquired the condition of
affairs out there. He was as cool and collected as if nothing unusual had occurred,
sending his aides to different points, directing the movement of troops, etc. In
the fight, Company H lost David C. Hubbell, taken prisoner; Thomas Molineaux,
shot through the neck, and left in the hospital at Shepherdsto\vn, where he died
a fe^ days afterward; and Jonas Erway, shot in the forehead, losing an eye.

After this the companies all joined the regiment, and were directed
to take position on the right of the line as dismounted skirmishers.
The stone walls allordeu good works, from behind which the skir-
mishers kept up a brisk fire. From tlio position occupied by the
Piegiment long liiies of troops were plainly visible behind the woods,
wdiich screened them from view from our troops in the center and
on the left. The figliting was continued until late at night, when
the Regiment was witlidrawn from tlie right and placed in a grove in
rear of the right center of our line. Here tlie men, although sup-
posed to be " standing to horse," sank down upon the ground ex-
hausted. The rebels appeared to liave an esj)ecial spite against tlie
location, sendin;^' sliells with much rapidity and accuracy ; but tlie
men slept soundly while the shells tore tlirough the trees and crashed
and shrieked around them. In-foro daylight on the ITth, the men
were quietly awakeneu, and a.s quietly stole away and joined the
brigade in the strfci^ of tlie villai/e on its retroirnide movement.

18C3 SERGEANT PECK'S EXPERIENCE. 135

Commissary Preston was left at a street crossing to direct a detacli-
ment, which Avas expected iu from picket, what road to follow. It
was daylight before he left his position. He saw no rebel troops nor
anytliing to indicate the presence of an enemy near.

In liis report of the fight, General Stuart, commanding the Con-
federate cavalry says:

Preparations were made to renew the attack vigorously next morning, but day-
break revealed that the enemy had retired toward Harpers Ferry.

Sergeant M. D. Peck, of Company M, the regimental standard-
bearer, was overlooked when the Eegiment retired in the darkness,
and did not awake till after daylight. Here is what he has to say :

934 F Street, Washlj^oton, D. C, April 26. 1890.

The occurrences of th^ battle of Shephcrdstown, Va,., July IG, 1863, and that
which took place during the next twenty-four hours, are still very fresh in my
memory, from the fact that at that time I saw visions of my early entry into Libby
Prison that I never was before nor afterward possessed with.

After the battle on the day of the ICth, which it is unnecessary for me to de-
tail, our regiment, at about nine o'clock in the evening", camped in a little grove,
perhaps a quarter of a mile southwest of Shepherdstown, and we were placed so
as to form two sides of a triangle, and there waited in suspense for orders until
about eleven o'clock at night. Having the regimental colors, I was, witli Colonel
Avery and some of the staff-officers, between the two wings of the Regiment. The
Colonel repeatedly sent to General Gregg for orders, but the General could not be
found, or at any rate the Colonel could get no orders. About eleven o'clock at
night General Gregg ordered the long roll beaten, as a ruse to indicate to the
enemy that our troops were re-enforced by infantry. We all scorned to realize the
fact that we were in close quarters, and that unless something could be done very
soon we would be swallowed up. Between eleven and twelve o'clock everything
became quiet, and the men lay down by the side of their horses and went to sleep
for the night. I was lying not more than six feet from the Colonel, by the side
of my horse.

The men had been ordered in the earlier part of the evening not to talk aloud
nor to allow the clanking of the sabers, and to prevent all noise, as far as pos-
sible.

From the time I lay down on my blanket, which I took from under the saddle,
I did not awaken until the next morning at four o'clock, when 1 was aroused by
the uneasy stamping of my horse. I at once looked around and discovered that
the Regiment had moved, leaving my horse and myself nlone. I rapidly placed
my blanket under the saddle and mounttnl and rode a short distance, reaching
the road, when a sergeant, whose name I do not now recollect, came in from off
picket, with all speed, and stated that ho had been left out there alone. He joined
mo, and as we started toward Shepherdstown we had gone but a few rods
wlien we met an old wJiite man, of wliom I made inquiry of which way tlie
Yankees had gone. Ho tuld me that they loft their camp at one o'clock in

136 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

the morning and marched toward Harper's Ferry, taking the river road, at the
same time pointing in that direction. Being two hours behind our troops, and it
then being daybreak, we felt assured that our retreat was cut off and thought our
capture inevitable. Nothing, [lowever, was loft us but our own pluck in an effort
to escape. I told the Sergeant to follow me, and I at once planned that, should our
retreat be obstructed, we would exchange a few shots until we could gain ground
enough toward some house to enable me to tear the beautiful silken banner that
I carried from the staff and secrete it or consign it to the flames of some stove.

Our horses were fleet of foot, and as we dashed down the road toward town we
soon went under the cover of the high banks on each side of the road, which contin-
ued until we reached the cross-road. At this point, as we dashed across the road, I
saw at the right coming down the cross-road, about fifteen or twenty rods distant,
a half-dozen or more of the enemy. But, before they had time to raise their weap-
ons, we were on the other side of the road and again under cover of the high
banks, which protected us for some distance and until we were apparently out of
danger. The rain was pouring down in torrents, and wo continued our journey
as rapidly as the strength of ouj:, horses would admit of, and reached Harpers
Ferry in time to dismount with our regiment, not having been missed by the
Colonel nor any one else, so far as I know.

I have no recollection whatever of seeing any one of cur troops on the morn-
ing of the 17th of July at Shepherdstown after I started for Harper's Ferry, nor
any one on the way except the Sergeant who accompanied me. So I think the
man who came up to the commissary of the Regiment on that morning must have
preceded me on his way to Harper's Ferry.

It is recorded, on pages 182, 183, of the History of the First Maine
Cavalry, that —

A few of the men at the front, who had fallen asleep, did not hear the order to
retire, and next morning they found that tlio field ha<i been abandoned by the
forces of both sides, and that the rebels had built a barricade across the road just
in front of the one built by the Union forces.

Lieut. John T. ^McKovitt, of Coni}>any G, was shot through the
lungs, in tliis engagement, and loft to the care of a family in the Til-
lage. By the tender nursing of a youiig lady, ^liss ^laggie Chapline
by name, the life that Mas despaired of was saved, and the gallant
officer gave his liand aiul heart to the one who liad watched over and
cared for him in the (hirk liours of de>]>air and sufferinof.*

In his report, dated August 'i'l, 1803, covering the operations of
the Second Cavalry DivL^ion during tliis time, General D. McM.
Gregg says :\

. . . With the view of gfHtlng in rear of and on the flank of the rebels, on the
loth I marched with the First and Tlsird Brigadi -^ to Shepherdstown. .

* Both have sine:; dkd.

f, Official Records, Series I, y.A. xxvij, Pnrt T, p. 050.

1803 RETURN TO HARPER'S FERRY. 137

On the ICth, ... at about noon, a few shots heard on the road leading to Win-
chester announced an attack on our pickets. . . . The enemy attacked in large
force, and . . . soon the engagement became very spirited. The Fourth and Six-
teenth Pennsylvania and First ]\[aine Regiments were principally engaged in my
front, the Tenth New York on the right covering the road leading to Martins-
burgc . . .

During the whole afternoon and until some time after dark the fight was
maintained. . . . Having discovered that the enemy had gained the roads leading
to Harper's Ferry, and the river in rear of Shepherdstown being unfordable, and
attacked thus by so largely a superior force, we dared not yield our position, and it
was held heroically. At about dark, Colonel Hucy, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
arrived with the Second Brigade. His report that he had been attacked on the
march from Harper's Ferry determined me to withdraw to that point. ... At
about 9 p. M. it was discovered that the enemy were withdrawing.

The rear of my command left Shepherdstown at daylight on the 17th.

Colonel J. I. Gregg, in his report of the Shepherdstown engage-
ment, says : *

The l^nth New York Cavalry was posted on the right on the Martinsburg
road, on which the enemy made several demonstrations during the engagement,
but were gallantly repulsed.

Private C. C. Phelps, of Company L, who was at the time serving
as an orderly to General Gregg, was sent to Harper's Ferry with dis-
patches to Colonel Huey on the afternoon of the IGth, and was capt-
ured by the enemy soon after leaving Shepherdstown.

The return march to Harper's Ferry was made on a road running
along the river. The Regiment remained on Bolivar Heights until
Sunday, the 19th of July, when it marched southward again, encamp-
ing that night at Lovettsviile, and the next day to Leesburg, where a
halt was made to allow tlie men to cook their suppers. Then the
march was resumed again, and they went into camp at Goose Creek
at night. At 8 a. m. of the 21st the command was again on the
move, marching in cloud^s of dust, and encamped on the field where
the battle of Bull Run occurred just two years before tliis day. So
dusty and begrimed we're the men that it was difficult to distinguish
comrades who chanced to become separated. John King, of Com-
pany A, went for water after the Regiment had gone into camp, and,
returning, inquired of the men in his own company where. Compaiiy
A was located.

The Regiment marched through Manassas to Broad Run on the
22d and encamped ; thence to Catlott's Station on the 23d, and AVar-

* Official Records. Series 1, vol. xxvii, Part I, p. 978.

138 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 18G3

renton Junction — fiiniiiiar ground — on the 24tli. The -next day it
marched to Bealton Station and went on picket during a rain-storm.
Here it remained picketing in tlie direction of Sulphur Springs until
the 2Sth, when it was relieved and returned to Bealton in a heavy
thunderstorm. It generally rained when the Regiment encamped
around Bealton or Warrenton.

The brigade left Bealton and encamped two miles from Warren-
ton, on the Front Royal road, on the ;29th, in the midst of our in-
fantry camps ; thence to Amissville on the 30th, where it encamped
in the woods and remained several days.

Detachments from the Regiment were frequently sent out scout-
ing. On one of these expeditions made by a squadron under the
command of Lieutenant Sceva, on Monday, the od of August, a force
of Confederate cavalry was encountered near Little Washington and
driven through the. village. As the little force under Lieutenant
Sceva reached the top of a hill, commanding a view of the country
for some distance ahead, with Little Washington in the distance,
the sharp crack of several carbines was followed by the singing of
bullets by their ears. The rebels had dismounted and taken posi-
tion behind a high, winding stone wall that ran along the road,
and could not be seen. Lieutenant Sceva immediately deployed a
portion of his little command as skirmishers in the open field to
the right, but before the formation had been completed the position
of the enemy had been discovered and the skirmishers were called
in. Lieutenant Sceva gave tlie command, " Draw sabers ! " and
then followed a bold and successful saber charge. The rebels broke
from cover, mounted their horses, and sought safety in flight, our
boys in close pursuit, down across a bridge, through the village,
and out on the Sperryville road, making botli the rebels and the
dust fly. Finally, the boys came back with four prisoners as the
result of the charge, and the command returned to the camp at
Amissville in the evening. The number of the enemy was fully as
great as Lieutenant Sceva's force. Our loss was none. This little
adventure appeared to awaken the latent fire in the Lieutenant's
bosom, and next day, the -ith, he led three companies to the same
place, without encountering or observing any rebels. On the return,
however, when a sliort distance from Little Washington, he found
himself confronted by a force of rebel cavalry that liad gained his
rear and had torn up a bridge over the creek and stood ready to dis-
pute his further progress. But tlie detachment was at once put in
readiness for anotlier cliarge, and Avent forward with a clieer. Again

18C3 COMPANIES M AND K ON DETACHED SERVICE. 139

the rebels broke and fled and were pursued for some distance. In
tliis encounter we lost one man taken prisoner. George Hines, of
Company A, had a queer experience in this skirmish. He encount-
ered a Confederate in a personal struggle, each firing all the car-
tridges from his revolver, when they grasped each other in a rough-
and-tumble fight, at the termination of wdiich Ilines mounted his
antagonist's horse and rode off, trading horses without guaranty.
The command reached camp about 4 p. m.

Surgeon II. K. Clarkesj, mentions the skirmishes in these words :

On the 3d of August, 18G3, Lieutenant Sceva was sent to Little Washington
on a scouting expedition. Sceva was a gallant fellow. His great desire was to
charge into Richmond with saber only. He disdained the revolver ; did not want
one in the command. When near Little Washington his command was fired
upon. Sceva gave the command to draw saber, and away he flew down the road,
his long hair streaming back. He was closely followed by his little command
with sabers gleaming in the sunlight. The enemy broke from concealment,
mou'^ed, and started toward the mountains. In the scrub race that followed we
gathered in some prisoners, among the number one of those who fired the first
shots, whose saber and spurs I took and still retain.

Next day Sceva went out again. Captain Blynn and I went out on the road
for a distance after he had gone. We saw a detachment of rebs that had barri-
caded the road and were awaiting Sceva's return. Sceva gave them a good fight,
losing, however, one man taken prisoner, Charles Clifford, of Company E.

The Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry relieved the Tenth from picket
on the 5th, and the latter returned to camp at Amissville. Then on
the 7th the division left for Sulphur Springs, whore it encamped
until the 15th. "While here, on the 13th of August, the brigade des-
ignation was changed from the Third to the Second, and the Second
and Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry l\t?giments were added to it. The
same day a detachment of one hundred and fifty men from the Pcgi-
ment went on a reconnaissance to Gaines Cross-roads encountering -
none of the enemy. (See ^Vppendix for ^lajor Avery's Peport.)

Crossing the liappahannock at 9 A. M. on the 15th, the division
marched to Catlett's Station. Here the " Scotts Nine Hundred"
Covalry Pegiment, that came to the division soon after the battle of
Gettysburg, returned to Washington. The Tenth did picket duty in
this vicinity for several days. On the 23d, details were made from
Companies M and K for orderly service with the Second Corps, in
accordance with special order Xo. SI, Cavalry Corps, dtited August
5^3, ISlio. Again the Pegiment broke camp and marched with the
division to the vicinity of Jell'ersonton and Oak Shade on the 21th,
and went on })ickot along the Hazel Piver.

140 HISTORY OF THE TENTH KEGDIEXT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

A detail of eighty men was made from the Regiment ou the 4th
of September to proceed to Washington for horses. This detach-
ment, which was under command of Major AYeed, returned to camp
on tlie 10th, with fifteen hundred liorses, whicli were distributed
amon^i: the various reofiments of the division. The command marched
to the vicinity of Warrenton Junction, and went into camp on the
13th. It rained, as usual, when it approached Warrenton Junction.
There were about eisfht Inmdred of the horses broii2:ht from Wash-
ington by the detachment under Major Weed, and on the ISth the
command, encumbered with these, marched to Culpcper, crossing the
river at Rappahannock Station on a pontoon bridge. Xext day a
detail of one hundi-ed and fifty men from the Regiment went to Cat-
lett's Station for beeves. The Tenth was encamped south of Cul-
peper from the ,21st to the 24th. "While here an issue of wormy
hard-tack and rusty pork was made to the Regiment. The men busied
themselves in faking a census of the inhabitants of their hard-tack,
and investigating the oxidized pork, during the time that could be
spared from eliminating the timothy-seeds from their nether garments.
Then on the afternoon of the 24th they were again in the saddle
and moving northward, encamping at night at Brandy Station, where
they remained until the 1st of October, when they marched to Fay-
etteville, and did picket duty along the Rappahannock River. Re-
lieved by an infantry force on the 2d, the Regiment marched to
Bealton in a heavy storm. Here it picketed the surrounding coun-
try until the 9th, when a scouting expedition was ordered to War-
renton. A few rebels vrere seen, but they retired rapidly before
the invading host. On the return of the detachment to camp it
was dispatched on another reconnaissance beyond Warrenton and
Sulphur Springs, returning late at night, having encountered nothing
of a hostile nature. Early on the 10th the division was on the move,
going over well-trodden and familiar paths, to a point below Cul-
peper Coiirt-lloiise. Xext day the Second Division marched through
Culpeper and halted on the hills to the west, from Avhere Kilpatrick's
troopers could be seen to the south of tlie town, falling back. The
entire army had abandoned tlieir camps and were nun'ing northward.

Our signal officers on Pony Mountain had made out from the.
enemy's signals General Lee's purpose of makins: an iniuicdiate march
around tlie right flank of the Union anny. General ^leade, instead
of disposing his army to meet this intended movement and give
battle, at once began a retrograde march northward. After the Rap-
pahannock had been crossed, General Meade, apparently confused as

THE FIGHT AT SULPHUR SPRINGS. 141

to General Lcc's presence and purposes, directed General Sedgwick
to recross and engage ilie Confederate army at Brandy Station, when
in fact that army was already far to the west of that point, at Jeffer-
sonton. General Sedgwick suggested an attack at Sulphur Springs,
which was not approved, and the Army of the Potomac continued
the march toward Washington, Eesuming the march frum Culpeper,
the Second Cavalry Division crossed tlie Hazel Eiver at Rixeyville,
and passiiig through Jefl'ersonton, reached its old camps at Sulphur
Springs at dusk, the Tenth settling down in the quarters vacated by
it but a few days before. Here, all unconscious of the proximity
of the enemy^ a good night's rest was enjoyed. General Gregg had
sent scouting parties in various directions, however, none of whom
were heard from on the 11th. The First Maine Cavalry, under
Lieutenant- Colonel Smith, had been oi'dered to Little Washington
on a reconnaissance early on the morning of the 12th, and on their
return late at night, found A. P. Hill's corps of the rebel army
encamped about Amissville and Jellersonton. Being thus cut oft,
Colonel Smith returned with the Regiment, and after a two days'.
march, full of hardships and adventure, on one occasion marching
into the sleeping camp of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry Itite at night,
the Regiment finally found the Army of the Potomac near Bristoe
Station.

At an early hour the command was moved across to the east side
of the river, leaving the Fourth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry
Regiments on picket in the direction of Jeifersonton. The Tenth
halted about half a mile from the ford, on the south side of the road
leading to Warrenton, and went into camp. Colonel Taylor's brigade
had been sent to Warrenton before the Second Brigade had crossed
the river. While tlie men were busy making preparatio])s for future
comfort, tlie sharp crack of carbines vras heard' across the river, and
then the bugle summoned tliem to horse. The Regiment was quickly
mounted and moved to the support of the battery posted near the ford.
While tliis movement was being made, the Fourth and Thirteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, which had stubbornly resisted the advance
of the enem}^ made by infantry and cavalry in overwhelming num-
bers, Avere seen to break from the woods, and tlie Tenth was ordered
to their assistance. While the rear of the Regiment was coming into
line behind the battery, the right broke by fours and moved to the
ford. After crossing, ^Major Avery deployed a part of tlie Regiment
as skirmishers, which extended the line so that the right reached be-
yond the woods in wliich the two regiments already named were

Ii2 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMEXT OF CAVALRY. 1SC3

ifiaintaini7ig tliG unequal contcsL From tlie right of the line a view
could be had behind the woods. Infantry in solid columns were in
plain view, v<diile the open field swarmed with cavalry and artillery.
Those on tlie east side of the river, who witnessed the advance of the
IvGgiment under a lieavy fire on this occasion, spoke of it with great
admiration. Tlie alignment was perfect, and was maintained until
the wood was entered. Prom the position here attained the large
force in front of the Regiment was partially disclosed. After a brief
resistance the Tenth was compelled to fall back, together with the
Fourth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania, as the flanks were overlapped.*
The organization of the llcgiment became broken by its inability to
resist the great numbers brouglit against it, and as the men broke
from the timber the rebels followed with their characteristic yell.
The right of the Regiment was thus cut olf, but most of the men
escaped, going directly to the river, and, plunging in, swam across.
Meantime the battery was doing excellent service at the ford, and
aided by the carbineers along the river's edge, compelled the
enemy to retire to the cover of the wood again. General Gregg
caused the dismounted men to be organized and placed along the
river's bank during the quiet that followed the falling back of the
enemy to the wood, knowing their services would soon be required.
A stalf-ofhcer called for a report of tlie number of mounted men in
the Regiment. This report showed seventy-eight men. Upon receipt
of this. Major Avery was directed to take them to one of the fords
up the river to prevent the crossing of the enemy. The command
])ad proceeded about a mile on its destination when the ominous
silence was broken by tlic simultaneous discharge of several cannon
in. the wood on the hill (>ppo<ite t!io ford. The guns were worked
vigorously for a short time, and then loud and clear rang out. the yell
which invariably accom]iani(d the rebel charire. "With the first dis-
charge of the rebel guns the liegiment had lialted, and as the tumult
of conflict was heard at the ford, Major Avery directed Commissary

*. . . The Sc'vcntli Virginiu Cixv.ilry w.is sent to the left and the Twelfth Vir-
ginia Cavah-y to the ri^ht, with the irUention of penetrating to the enemy's rear
and cutting them off from the fords. Cuionel Funsten, with the Twelfth Vir^-inia,
soon encouiuered the Tenth New Y<>rk C-ivalry, and after a brief but severe
struggle drove th'MTi hack toward the rivt-r. . . .

Sending two regiments to rr('>> the Kaj'pahannock higlier up, Stuart pro-
ceeded to force the passage of tin- river at Warrenton Springs. Here the ford
and bridge were ccmmamletl t>y rilh'-pits. into whici) the enemy had thrown a
considerable f».»rce of dismountvd lu'-ri. — i/fhe CanqKiigns of StuarCs Cavalry, p.

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1863 m A TIGHT PLACE. 143

Preston to proceed to that point and ascertain the condition of affairs.
It was then just dusk. Passing rapidly through the weeds surround-
ing the ruins of the large Sulphur Springs House, Lieutenant Preston
encountered a line of dismounted troops who were being pursued by
mounted men. Supposing the pursuers to be officers and mounted
troops trying to rally the dismounted men, the Lieutenant passed
some of them. He suddenly discovered his mistake and found him-
self inside the enemy's line, and a sharp summons to surrender was
made by one of the rebels, who at the same time made an attempt to
grasp the bridle of his horse. A quick jerk brought the horse's head
around and a vigorous working of the spurs unlimbered his muscles.
Over the rough ground the animal bounded with the Lieutenant
bending forward on the pommel of the saddle, passing safely through
a shower of bullets and reporting to Major Avery that the entire
brigade had retired on the Fayetteville road, with the rebels in pos-
session of the ford and advancing up the Warrenton pike. There
was a cross-road leadinor from the one the Rec^iment was on to the
Warrenton road, a few rods back — that is, toward the advancing
enemy. Major Avery's objective point was that road. If the rebels
got possession of it, the Eegiment would be cut off. Countermarch-
ing the command, the march was rapidly taken up and the road
gained ; but the rebels were already in the dense timber which flanked
the road on the right, and they opened a rapid and well-directed fire
on the moving column. A little disposition to unsteadiness in the
ranks was checked by the prompt action of the Major, who brought
the men into line and commenced an action that appeared almost
hopeless. There seemed no way out of the predicament unless the
command could gain the Warrenton pike, now so near at hand.
Suddenly a dark column appeared on the pike directly across the
Regiment's path ! But thei/ were moving toward the ford ; and, sure
enough, they were opposing the same force that the Tenth were-
"What recriment is that?" sans: out one of the flankers. "First
Jersey," always a welcome name, never was so welcome as at that
moment. The cheer that followed the announcement must have sur-
prised the Jerseymen, who could hardly have expected L^nion troops
from that direction. The Regiment was hastily moved to the pike,
which it reached just as the gallant young Colonel Janeway led a
squadron of the First Xew Jersey in a charge down the road. Here
was Colonel Taylor's brigade. The Tenth took the position assigned
it, and as the regiments broke by fours into the road toward AVarren-
ton, it followed in its turn, taking the gallop as soon as the command

14:4 HISTORY OF THE TENTH KEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1803

hud all gained the road. About midway between Sulphur Springs
and ATarrenton a road led from the Warrenton pike to Fayette-
Tille. Turning upon this road, the march was continued until Fay-
etteville was reached, about 3 A. M. on the 13th, where the balance
of the Eegiment and brigade was found in a pretty exhausted con-
dition.

At the time that Major Avery proceeded up the river with the
main body of the Regiment, as already narrated, another portion,
consisting of about thirty men, was sent down the river some three
miles to Fox's Ford, where they were attacked, but stubbornly held
their position and kept possession of the ford until a portion of the
First Massachusetts Cavalry relieved them, when the detachment
from the Tenth retired to Fayetteville.

Still another portion, which had lost their horses and had served
as dismounted carbineers after the Eegiment fell back across the
river in the early part of the day, had accompanied the small force
under General Gregg, which wei-e forced back from the river to
Fayetteville in the final charge of the rebel hosts. These detach-
ments were reunited at Fayetteville on the morning of the 13th of
October, where the bronzed and bruised veterans gathered around the
camp-fires and recounted the incidents of the previous day's operations
and the heroic deeds of fallen comrades.

Of the engagement on the west side of the river early in the day.
Sergeant W. N. Harrison, of Company H, writes :

I have no knowledge how others made their escape, but I remember that Tvhen
I started to leave the place I had occupied I found I was alone and not more than
five rods from me was a platoon of rebel infantry coming straight toward me. As
I turned my horse I saw them raise their muskets, and bending forward, I plied
the spurs vigorously and my horse fairly flew over the space. Upon reaching the
river, the horse plunged in and bore me in safety to the opposite shore amid a
shower of bullets.

Company II suffered severely in the Sulphur Springs engagement,
losing Sergeants Benjamin Bonnell, Guy AVynkoop, and Gideon Dud-
ley, and Bugler Perry Cowls captured.*

Captain Bliss by his coolness and admirable conduct in this en-
gagement won the admiration and respect of the men in his own com-
pany as well as of all who saw him. Company D lost here Corporal
Eichard Oliver killed, Corporal I]. S. AVhite wounded and captured,
and Corporal Joseph F. Ashtenaw severely and several others slightly

* See Appendix, for 1>. W. Bonnell's Prison and Escape Experiences.

1863 EXPERIENCE OP GUS ELDRIDGE. ^ I45

wounded. Elias Evans was struck by a bullet which felled him to
the ground and rendered liim insensible for a short time. The bullet,
coming in contact with his handkerchief and a number of letters in
his pocket, failed to penetrate them all, but left a black contusion on
his left breast the size of a man's hand.

The horse ridden by Eobert Evans, of Company D, in the Sul-
phur Springs fight, was shot in one of its legs, throwing Evans some
distance. Ivegaining his feet, the horse went to his master, wlio re-
mounted and spurred for the river, closely followed by the enemy.
The horse was urged into the river and carried his rider safely across.
Halting in the edge of the stream, Evans fired twenty-one shots, all
the aininunition he had, at his would-be captors. He afterward found
the Eegimont after a long and tedious march.

In General Gregg's report, dated October 13, 1^03, 3.15 P. M.,
while at Eayetteville, he says :

One of iny men came in this morning, he h<aving remained. Scouted all night
near Sulphur Springs. He reports that the enemy were moving all night on the
road from tlie Springs toward Warrenton. He reports positively that the force
moving during the night was infantry. At daylight this morning he saw more
of the enemy' at the Springs.*

The unnamed hero mentioned in General Gregg's report was Gus
Eldridge, of Company D. His experience is given herewith. After
recounting the crossing of the river and engaging the rebels in the
woods, he says :

About this time a bullet struck me on the left breast; it was flattened out
and lodged on my arm. Lieutenant Edson was by ray side, and I called his at-
tention to it. He has since tlie war reminded me of a remark I made at the time,
to the effect that the reljels were shooting twenty-five-cent pieces at us.- In our
falling back my horse was shot, the bullet severing an artery, and he fell before
reaching tlic river. Just then the saddle on Major Avery's horse turned, and Ser-
geant licnnox. of Company D, was assisting hirn in readjusting it. I was about
to start on foot, when my horse got up again, and I mounted and crossed the river.
There were several men there without horses, whom I joined. We were ordered
into some light breastworks near the ford. Soon after this the rebels opened on
us with ten or fifteen pieces of artillery, silencing our battery, which retired, and
we were left to hold the ford alone. The first force we drove back, waiting until
they liad reached the river, and then we opened on them a brisk fire with our re-
peaters, and they retreated lively. Then they returned in greater force, in col-
umn of fours. There appeared to be no end to the column. We reserved our fire
again until tliey entered the river, and then repeated the tactics which had proved
successful before, pouring a rapid lire into them. Twice we drove them back

* Ofiicial Records, Series I, vol. xxix. Part I, p. 355.
10

14G HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. . 1863

to tho river's batik whence they came. Thea they made a determined advance
in overwhelming force and effected a crossing; but wo remained in our little
breastworks and kept up a rapid fire until they came swarming up the bank, then
we started on the run and a terrible fire was opened on us. I think there were
only two besides njyself vrho reached the ditch across the road, which was from
eight to ten feet wide and some five or six feet deep, which was full of rank weeds.
These two were captured at this ditch. I have never heard of either of them
since then. I remained concealed in the ditch within one hundred feet of the
road, on which the cavalry, infantry, and artillery of the rebel army passed long
into the night. They continued on the road to Warrenton. The night was very
dark, and I determined to try and make my escape. I quietly arose from my wet
hiding-place and started in the direction our troops had taken when they fell
back. I had proceeded but a short distance when some one in front cried " Halt ! "
and I halted, for I dropped flat on the ground. The bushes concealed me, and I
must have remained there fully fifteen minutes before I moved a muscle. I then
crawled on my hands and knees to a safe distance and remained till daylight,
when I arose, and, [massing through a piece of woods, came to a house occupied by
a family named Shumake. While the girls, who were mulattoes, were making me
a hoe-cake, one of them said, " There coines two rebs." I looked out and saw two
rebel cavalrymen approaching, one of them leading one of our horses, with an
overcoat strapped on the back of the saddle. Then I felt the need of the carbine
I had left in the ditch the night before. They rode up to the door and asked if
their troops hasjl passed that way. The girls replied no. Then they inquired
whether the Yankees had, to which the girls replied yes. Asked if they had seen
any straggling Yankees that morning, and were told that they had not. when they
rode away. I ate tiie hoe-cake and gave ihe girls all the money I had, fifty cents,
and resumed my journey. I had proceeded but a short distance when I reached
the picket, and was again inside our lines and soon joined the Regiment at Fay-
etteville. After hearing my story. Captain Bliss took me to Major Avery, and he
in turn, took me to Generals Gregg and Kilpatrick and an infantry general whom
I did not know. Tiiey all questioned me pretty closely. After i left them we
broke camp and commenced marcliing nortiiward.

Xo doiil^t the important information communicated by Eldridge
caused a change in General Warren's plans. The Second Corps was
started northward again, preceded by Kilpatrick's division of cavalry,
the Second Division guarding the roar. The Tenth was formed for
battle several times during the march to Auburn on the 13th, where
they arrived about 9 r. :ir. The trains of the Second Corps were
struggling all night in a ravine below the hillside, where the Second
Cavalry Division went into camp.

As soon as the division came to a halt Captain Vanderbilt was
instructed to take Ids squadron, composed of Companies Land H, out
upon the road leading to Warrenton and picket the country. A guide
was furnished, and Commissary Preston was sent with the detach-
ment with instructions to return as soon as the Captain had estab-

18G3 GALLANTRY OF CAPTAIN VANDERBILT AND lilS MEN. j.17

lished his reserve, to acquaint himself with the route traveled in c;cse
Major Avery should desire to communicate with tlic Captain. Tlic
guide led the party through the darkness into a ravine, the first
part of the marcli being made amid the wagon train of the Socoiju
Corps. The jaded horses and worn-out riders were marched a dis-
tance of three or four miles, making a partial circuit of the camp of
the Second Cavalry Division, and, trusting to the guide, Captain Yan-
derbilt supposed he was a long distance from camp ; but while estab-
lishing his reserve the hum of many voices and driving of stakes was
plainly heard, showing the presence of the division encamped, as it
proved early next morning, quite near by. After establisliing L;3
reserve, Captain Vanderbilt proceeded out upon the road, through
the dense wood, to locate a picket post. Lieutenant Preston accom-
panied the party. AVhile instructing the picket, the unmistakable
presence of a large force of troops in his front was made known by
the noise of the men and the commands of the officers. The situa-
tion was not a pleasant one for the Captain to contemplate. Lieii-
tenant Preston left to report to I\Iajor Avery the condition of affairs,
but, getting mixed up in the confused wagon-trains cu route^ he did
not i^^ach the regiment until an early hour in the morning, just btioi'c
the attack was made in force on Captain Yanderbilt's little command.
In a letter to the historian, several years ago, Captain Vanderbilt
says, in making mention of this engagement :

Just before dawn (I need not tell you I did not sleep a wink that night jificr
you left me) I posted my reserves, dismounted, behind the barricade, with Lieu-
tenant Charley Pratt's and Lieutenant Woodruff's assistance, and gave Charley
orders to have all the men ready. I started for the outpost, and waited for iijiit.
Just at gray dawn I could distinguish the road and fields full of men, a colun:n
of mounted men coming down the road. I formed my men obliquely by tlie side
of the road in the woods, so that each m:ui could fire up tlie road. I then s.iii.;
out: " Halt ! who comes there ! " No reply, but the advance seemed to be niixii^i!-
up. I suppose the ones ahead wanted to change places with those in the rear, 1
waited but a moment, and then I shouted, '* Fire ! " Eight carbines rang out on
the still morning air. After a moment of preparation they charged down UMv-n
us, mounted, and we took position behind tlie barricade. On they came riglit up
to the barricade. Then brave Charley Prate's voice rang out as lie gave the oidet.^
to his men to "stand firm and give it to \w\ !" Our boys jii-t wanned thiMn i;p
in good style, and the rebels disappeared from our front. Then I received ;.a
order from ]\[ajor Avery, through you, " For (xod's sake, Van, hold them for ton
minutes longer, if possible ! " He wanted time to get the liegiment together, to
como to my hel[). Then I called for twelve volunteers to charge into the woods.
I wanted to break them up before getting formed for another charge. Lieuten-
ant Marsh Woodrull and a dozen men ca!ue into line quicker th'in I am recording

14:8 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CxVVALRY. 18G3

it, and, wasting no time in words, I gave the direction and command to charge,
and down the road they went, yelling like demons. The rebels broke, and we
chased them down the road, through the woods, until we ran up against a barri-
cade, which they had erected with the same benevolent purpose I had built mine.
Here we lost nine horses killed out of the twelve, and, strange to relate, not a
man hit! Then, as we fell back, we found the Regiment advancing to our assist-
ance. Major Avery exhibited his sterling qualities as a commander that morning
in getting the Regiment, worn out and sleepy as the men were, in line and ready
for action in so short a time.

It was unfortunate that tlie reserve under Captain Vanderbilt was
so near the command, as it gave the division but little time for prepa-
ration before the rebels, in overwhelming numbers, came down upon
him and required the most desperate fighting by his few men to hold
them in check. As soon as the Regiment came upon the ground, ]\Ia-
jor Avery ordered Lieutenant Thomas AY. Johnson to charge, mounted,
with his squadron. It was necessary that bold, determined action
should be taken at once, as the division was not yet prepared for
action, nor the batteries in position. Lieutenant Johnson went for-
ward with something of the feeling whicli must have impelled the
gallant Keenan, of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, as he charged
Jackson's victorious corps at Chancellorsville. Johnson well knew
the character of the undertaking. He knew, as Captain Vanderbilt
had already demonstrated, that the force he was about to charge was
infantry, and that their numbers were sufficiently great to give no
hope of permanent success. But time was necessary, and it must be
had, even at a sacrifice. Drawing his saber, Johnson rose in his stir-
rups, gave the command to charge, and, plunging the spurs into his
horse's flanks, sped onward, closely followed by his gallant command.
Men and horses went down before the terrible fire that met them,
Johnson being one of the first to fall. Over his prostrate form went
the charging column, until its object Avas attained, when it fell back,
leaving its gallant leader in the enemy's hands. Sergeants William
Lennox and Jay Crocker, of Company D, were killed in this charge.
Lieutenant H. E. Hayes, one of the foremost in this brilliant encoun-
ter, was left in command of the squadron when Lieutenant Johnson
fell, and he brought the command out in good order. Here is what
he has to say of the fight :

The rebels were dogging our heels, and we had learned ere this that it was
not a mere reconnoitring force that was harassing our rear, but that a part of
Lee's whole army was bulging out against us. \Vhen we bivouacked that night on
the wooded slope at Little Auburn, with only a picket-line between our squadron
and the enemy, not a saddle was loosened nor a blanket unstrapped. The little

.^f \

1 \

^ *

LIEUTENANT HENRY E. HAYES,
Co. I.

1863 STUAIIT IX A TIGHT PLACE. I49

sleep we obtained was with bridles in hand, ready to mount at a word, well know-
ing that a hot and bloody reveille was awaiting us at the coming dawn. With
the first shimmer of the morning light came the expected signal. It was the
crack of carbines from Captain Vanderbilt's pickets. In an instant every man
was upon his horse and instinctively came into line at the edge of the grove,
ready for the command. " Forward 1 " shouted the gallant Johnson. " Charge ! "
Sabers were drawn and the line dashed forward. By this time the rebel infantry
were pouring out of the woods across the field, and bullets were singing tiirough
the air. The ground in our front was covered with stumps and scrub-oaks,
and the line was soon broken, but the men pressed forward, driving back the
rapidly advancing rebel skirmishers. When we reached the top of the slope
we were in the face of a strong line of infantry that poured a murderous volley
into our ranks. We returned their fire vigorously, but could advance no fur-
ther. Lieutenant Johnson fell here, and was supposed to have been killed. We
were now compelled to fall back with as much promptness as we went forward,
and it was some hours before the shattered remnant of our squadron was re-
formed.

This quick and fierce dash against the advancing columns of Lee's army
serveii a good purpose by holding them in check until Gregg and Avery could so
dispose their forces as to make our column safe.

General Gregg, always apparently coolest in exciting times, had
his command well in hand in a few moments. The enemy were held
<<intil the trains had safely passed, when Gregg withdrew and followed
in rear of the Second Corps.

Major McClellan states * that at 4 P. M., on the 13th of October,
Stuart arrived with his cavalry at Auburn, where he left Lomax with
his brigade, while he proceeded with the balance of his force toward
Catlett's Station. When near the station lio suddenly found himself
in tlie presence of the Union wagon-trains and moving columns of
infantry and artillery hurrying northward. Stuart sent Major Yena-
ble of his stall to inform General Lee of the situation of affairs and
suggest an attack; but when Yenable reached Auburn he found it in
possession of our troops and was compelled to make a (Jelour to the
north to reach Warrenton, first sending Stuart word of the condition
of things at Auburn. As evening was coming on, Stuart moved
toward Auburn, hoping to force a passage at that point ; but he found
himself hemmed in on both sides by the columns of our infantry
moving northward by parallel routes. He vras compelled, therefore,
to remain quiet in the fields witli but the hills and darkness to con-
ceal his presence from our troops. Posting his guns on the crest of
the hill in his front, Stuart with his troopers remained during the

* The Caiupaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, pp. 3S'

jn2.

150 HISTORY OF THE TEXTII REGIMENT OF CAVAJ.KY. 38G3

night within three hundred rods of the road along ^vhicli C'Mt troops
were marcliing. ^

Major McClellan says :

So close were we to the marcliing: columns of the enemy that "^vo vonlCi dis-
tinctly hear the orders of the officers as they closed up the colunm. We. could
even hear the voices of the men in conversation, etc.

He further states that as daylight came on our infantry stacked
arms near by and began straggling in search of water, whcr.. knt^wing
their discovery was inevitable, their batteries wt^re put in rea' liness,
and as "a few shots on the side of the enemy next to Wavro],.')n in-
formed us that some one was about to commence work tlici e, in an
instant our seven guns were raining shell and canister uj'un the
enemy."* Our infantry moved to the attack, and after a b .iof en-
gagement Stuart uncovered himself by moving to the rear, ihus ex-
tricating his command from its perilous position.

When the Tenth left the iiillside at Auburn skirnii:bipg was
briskly going on, otir skirmishers being under command of Captain
Bliss; but the enemy exhibited no disposition to push further llglit-
ing seriously, and Gregg^s regiments left with as much ordor r;s if
going on parade. After passing Cedar Run the men were compelled
to leave ^he road, which was in po^^session of tlio enemy, aiid mcirch
Indian file through the underbrush and timber to its right for some
distance.

Just before dark the Reginient issued from tlie woods south of
Bristoe Station, and the men beheld a long column of ini'anirv drawn
up on the opposite side of the railroad cut, which in the faftlns;- li^rht
of day were mistaken for Union ti-oops, but, a moment later, a volley
directed against tlie Kegiment changed not only tlieir o])iriion, but
the direction of march as well. 'Die First Xev/ Jersev, under the
gallant Colonel Janeway, were deployed mountcil to mei-t il;i. rebel
infantry; but the intervening railway cut prevented their doiji_^- ef-
fective service, and tlie whole force finally retired througli the woods-
toward Brentsviile and took po.^ition on the left of the Second Corps,
then in process of retirement by the right flank after tlie brilliant
fight at Bristol.' Station, in whlrh tliey punished tlie rebels severely
and captured several cannon. In \he early eveninir, wlien li tracked'
by the rebel infantry, tlie lior.^e of Ifarry FreeirKui, of Conipanv A,
was shot, and Sergeant Mitchell bravely returned under lire and as-
sisted Freeman to join his comi-aiiv.

Canipai;;ns of Stuart's Cuvnlry, }), ;;!

1863 ON PICKET AT FAYETTEVILLE AND MORRISVILLE. 151

At 1 A. 31. tlie Regiment left its position in line near Brentsville,
and moving by the right flank followed the rest of the brigade, pass-
ing over the battle-field in the woods, where the pitiful cries of the
wounded rose on the still night air pleading for water and assistance.
The march was continued all day in a hard rain, crossing Broad Run
at night and going into camp soon after.

The next day two squadrons were sent to picket along Bull Run,
and on the 17th the Regiment marched with the army-trains, going
into camp about four miles from Fairfax Court-House. Rations and
forage were obtained from Fairfax Court-House on the 18th, and that
afternoon the Regiment marched to Union Mills. On the 19th Com-
pany H w^as ordered to accompany the One Hundred and Seventieth
Xew York Volunteers on picket, returning to the Regiment next day.

The march southw^ard w\as commenced again on the 21st, General
Lee having begun a retrograde move, and the cavalry encamped near
Gainesville. From this point a detail from the Tenth was sent to
Washington with condemned horses.

On the 22d the Regiment marched with the brigade to Fayette-
ville, where it continued on picket and scouting duty until the 7th of
November, when it was ordered to Morrisville and next day to Kelly's
^ord. Here it went on picket. Returning to Morrisville on the 10th,
it was ordered to report to Colonel Huey, of the Eighth Pennsylvania
Cavalry, at Grove Church, for picket duty. On the 18th a part of
the picket reserve had a slight skirmish with guerrillas.

On the 10th of J^ovember, Lieutenant M. R. Woodruff with a
small force was attacked by largely superior numbers near Grove
Church and lost five men taken prisoners, and he himself was wounded
yery severely and left on the field for dead. Warren Irish, of Com-
pany D, gives an account of this affair as follows :

While oil picket near Grove Church, a woman who lived outside our lines
made a request for eight or ten safeguards. Lieutenant Woodruff, of Company
L, was sent out to post them. They had gone but a short distance beyond our
picket-line M'hen they were attacked by about twenty-five bushwhackers, who
were lying in ambush for them. The Lieutenant was shot in the back, and his
horse becoming uninanageal>le, t lie rebels supposed he was trying to escape and
shot him again, lie fell from liis horse, and feigning death, barely escaped with
his life. The rebels [proposed to shoot him again, but finally decided that he. was
dead. All the men were taken prisoners, including W. Brooks, B. Bowriian, N.
Dimon, S. Leach. J. E. Derrand, and J. Hummel, of Company E. After the rebels
had gone. Lieutenant Woodruff crawled near enough to a small house to have his
cries for help lieard, and a small boy went to his assistance and aided him to the
house, where he remained until an ambulance arrived and took him away.

152 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G3

Au unfortunate afTair occurred on the morning of the 20th. The
Fourth Pennsylvania Cavah-y, returning from a reconnaissance, came
upon the pickets of tlie Tenth, and each supposing the other to be
rebels, attacked with vigor. Before serious consequences occurred,
however, the mistake was discovered.

Pickets were called in and the liegiment marched to Morrisville

and joined the brigade on the 23d of Xovember. Several men Avere

'taken from the Tenth this day to serve in Battery A, Fourth United

States Artillery, among the number being Robert Trotter and Eli

Baird, of Company I).

Leaving Morrisville at G A. m. on the 2-ith, the Pegiment marched
to Ellis F'ord, on tlie Pa2)pahannock, where it crossed and went into
camp at Union Church. The day was raw, cold, and rainy. Then on
Thursday, the 2Gth, it marched to lily's Ford and crossed, the Second
Penns3dvania Cavalry .leading. After crossing, the Tenth took the
advance in the Second Brigade, which was ahead, and bivouacked late
in the night at Wliito Hall. The march was taken up again at day-
break on the 27th, and about noon the plank road running from Ger-
manna Ford to Fredericksburg was struck, when the First Brigade took
the advance, and after reaching Xew Hope Church the latter brigade
came upon the rebels in force and sultered considerably before assist-
ance coidd reach them. The F'ifth Corps had come upon the road
between the two brigades, making it necessiiry for the cavalry boys to
march in single file part of the time in passing them to go to the
help of their hard-pressed comrades of the First Brigade, so that by
the time the scene of the contiict was reached it had degenerated into
a brisk skirmish. There were abundant evidences of the hard strug-
gle as the Pegiment came upon the ground. The dead and wounded
in great numbers were lying in the shade of the trees surrounding
the little church, wliile near by the sni-geons were busv plying knife
and saw upon the unfortunate wounded. The Tenth was at once
dismounted and advanced as skirmisli.TS in a dense undergrowth to
the left of the road upon which it had advanced. It was next to im-
possible to preserve alignment or to keep within sight of each other
in the rank jungle. Towanl evening tlie infantry took the places of
the cavalry, and tlie latter encam[>ed in the woods in their rear.

Tlie Tenth was assigned to picket duty on the cold, stormy 2Sth
of Xoveniber. Tiie Second and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and
tlie Tenth were the only regiments of the tlivision present, Colonel
Taylor's brigade having been sent for the supply-trains. The weather
remained cold and disngn-eable on tlie 2'Jlh. While a f<\ather-weio-ht

18G3 A SHARPSHOOTER'S FATE. I53

issue of rations was being made to the Regiment on this day, there
suddenly apj^earcd a bareheaded horseman coming into the open from
the direction of Parker's store — in our rear — shouting wiklly, " Rebs I
rebs ! " at the top of his voice. In an instant all was commotion.
The men scattered for their quarters, the bugles resounded on every
side, and for a few moments all was confusion ; but General Gregg
soon had his command in good condition for receiving visitors. The
Tenth was moved down the road whence the alarm came, and a por-
tion of the Regiment dismounted and advanced a strong line of skir-
mishers on the right of the road in the woods. The enemy were
found in force, and a brisk skirmish ensued. xV section of the bat-
tery came flying down, and taking position in the road, began shelling
the enemy vigorously. General Gregg had taken the precaution to
have a company of sharpshooters from the Sixth corps in reserve.
The officer commanding the section of artillery complained that
sharpshooters were picking off his men and horses.

The captain of the sharj^shooters detailed a man to discover the
rebel marksman and snap his brittle thread of life. A tall, stoop-
ing, ungainly-looking specimen of humanity responded to the Cap-
tain's call, and swinging an immense rifle (with a long telescope-
I sight running the entire length of the barrel) over his shoulder, he
shambled along under cover of the trees until he passed just beyond
the skirmish-line. Stationed behind a large tree, he watched intently
a tree near the bridge which crossed the little stream in our front,
along which the rebel line extended. Presently he brought the im-
mense rifle to his shoulder, the report of its discharge was blended
with those of the carbines on either flank, and those who had been
watching the proceedings saw a man fall from the tree on which his
attention had been fixed. A few moments later the rebels fell back,
and as a part of the Regiment passed the spot in pursuit, the lifeless
form of the rebel sharpshooter was seen lying as he had fallen, a vic-
tim of the barbarous mode of warfare which he had himself chosen.
Major Weed, Assistant Adjutant-General ^laitland. Adjutant Ken-
nedy, and Commissary Preston, galloped over the road to Parker's
Store, following close upon the retreating rebels. The latter oflicer
captured a soldier belonging to the First Xortli Carolina Cavalry.

A small force under St.M'geant W. P. Perry, of Company A, also
followed for some distance in pursuit. With this latter party was a
sergeant of one of the Pennsylvania cavalry regiments, who discov-
ered his brother lying dead by the roadside. Pending over the inani-
mate form for a moment, as if to assure himself that life had departed,

15J: HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1863

he removed the boot and took from the stocking of one of the feet of
the dead man a twenty-dollar treasury note.

After re-establishing the picket-line tlie Eegiment again returned
to its vacant camp. Captain Snyder Asas detailed with his squadron
to open communication with Colonel Taylor's brigade, for whose
safety General Gregg appeared to be somewhat concerned. The route
to be taken by the Captain led directly over the ground occupied by
the Confederate Cavalry in the engagement of the afternoon, beyond
which much of the way was through narrow paths and dense jungle,
so canopied in places as to shut out the view of the skies. The
night Avas dark and gloomy and it was very cold, but the duty was
performed well and satisfactorily, the detachment returning to camp
next day.

Few of the troopers of Gregg^s division were aware, perhaps, how
near they came to opposing a heavy movement of infantry at this
point, intended for the destruction of tlic left of the Union army.
Major McClellan says : '•

Hampton occupied the extreme riglit of the Confederate line. A personal
reconnaissance on the 30th broiit^ht him into a position where he was in rear of
the Federal left wing, which was fully comnianded by his post of observation.
Hampton wasjlooking down on the rear of tiu; Federal guns as they stood pointed
against the Confederate lines. 'J'here seemed to be no reason why a heavy force
could not be concentrated at this point, which might attack the Federal lines in
reverse, and perhaps re-enact some of the scerii.s of Chancellorsvilk}. This infor-
mation was quickly communicated to Stuart, wlio, after himself examining the
ground, conducted General K. E. Lee to t)ie i^auw yAiwe. A couucil of war was
held at night. The talk among the stall was ilr.d (General Lee and General Stuart
favored an immediate attack, but that Generals l^wdl and Hill did' not deem it
best. General Lee made anoihi.r personal rcconiini-sance on the 1st of December.
In his report he says: "^\!iilcr>(>i!*s and \\ii--(.x's divisions wore withdrawn from
the trenches at 3 a. m. on the 2d and movi-d to .»ur n^dit. with a view to make an
attack in that (p.iarter. As .-^vou ;>> it bi-caine liu'i.i vn ugh to di-!ingiiish objects
it was discovered that tlie enemy's pickets al'-nir our entire line had retired, and
our skirmishers were sent forward to ascertain Ids position ; , . . preparations
wero made to attack him on Wednesday in> 'ruing. Tliis was prevented by his
retreat."

The Army of the Potomac comuicnoed falling back from Mine
Run on the 1st of December, and GrcirL^'s division was assigned the
duty of covering the rem. at. It was a bi:!cr cold night, tlie men be-
coming thoroughly cliillc'l U^rough xshilo standing to horse, awaitin^
for the trains and columns uf infantrv a)ni artillorv to imiss.

* Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry. i>. 31)8.

1SC3 ENCAMPED AT TURKEY RUN. 155

Finally, falling in, the cavalry followed in rear of the last of our
troops, urging and aiding stragglers along, and crossed tlie river on
the morning of the 2d, the rebels following to the river and throwing
a few shells. (See Appendix for Major Weed's report of operations
of the Tenth Xew York Cavalry in Mine Eun campaign.)

Then came a resumption of picket duty along the Eapidan until
the 7th, when the Regiment rejoined the brigade near Stevensburg ;
and back to tlie Ra|>pahannock, crossing at Kelly's Ford on tlie 12th,
and thence to Bealton. On the 15th it marched through AVarrenton
Junction and relieved the Sixth Ohio, guarding the' railroad, and at
3 P. M. Company H, the advance of the Regiment, settled down at
Turkey Run, near ^Varrenton.

156 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

CHAPTER VIIL

spring campaign", 1s64 — from turkey rux to return from
Sheridan's raid to Richmond.

C^ >\ \k'/\ / ^Gtweon Warrenton a
^r^^J^"^-,;"'^ V ^ V tion, in the middle of ]

HEN the Tenth encamped in the oak woods
and Warrenton June-
December, 1SG3, there
; ^■^;^ T"«^^"" ^ ^-^ ^^^3 little thought that tlie command was to go
1/* ^.^"-^^-.C^^"'-^' - into winter quarters there. But when it was

_^ '-".'. ^-^^ . announced that the Second Cavalry Division
would remain on the line of the Warrenton
Branch Railroad during the winter, the boys began chopping down
the trees and erecting cabins. The hill was soon shorn of its beard,
and the Regiment was comfortably housed in its new location. It
was on high ground, with plenty of wood and water near by. In the
erection of quarters and the interior furnishings, levies were made on
abandoned buildings from the surrounding country. The camp was
never christened, but was generally referred to as the " camp near
Turkey Run." It was about equidistant between Warrenton and
Warrenton Junction. To the cast of the camp was an open field
used by the liegiment as a parade and drill ground.

Here, in this camp, the Tenth passed a very comfortable and
agreeable winter, with enough of picket and scouting duty to make
life enjoyjible. Commodious quarters were erected for the comman-
dant of tlie regiment, where the officers usually assembled in large
numbers to pass the evenings — and other things.

School-boy pranks were sometimes indulged in by the othcers to
take of! the dull edge of camp-life. Surgeon Clarke relates the fol-
lowing: :

While in camp near Warrenton, in the winter of 18()3-'C4, we were pleasantly
situated. One eveninix there were i^athered in the lurLTo headquarters building
quite a number of staff and line officers, in the full enjoyment of social inter-
course. The nii^'lit was cold. A rousin*; lire in the Ijroad, open fire})laee added
to the cheerfuhiess of liic scene. I quietly dropped out, and taking an empty

1S64 SMALL-POX. I57

grain-sack, put it over the top of the chimney, and secreted myself near by to
watch the result. With good draught, green pine would burn pretty freely, but
when the draught was shut off it would make a most abominable smoke. Soon
from out the room burst the occupants, rubbing their eyes, coughing, and saying
some bad things. They had been so deeply engrossed in their game of cards that
they paid no attention to the smoke until it had become unendurable, and then,
after "poking up the Jfire," which but added to their misery, they finally made a
break for fresh air, the Major meantime shouting for his orderly, Archie, and his
colored servant, "Lijo." ^yhat a jargon of disconnected sentences I heard from
those officers as I lay near by, concealed and almost convulsed with laugliter !
Finally, some one discovered the bag, and it was removed, the ]Major ejaculating
meantime, " That's some of Dock Clarke's doings." Toward morning I had a
dose of the same medicine, but without bad results, as the trick was discovered in
good season by Donnelly.

By the way, who that ever met Donnelly, the Irishman from Company' F,
serving in the hospital department, that did not remember him f — he who made
a pack-animal of his horse, carrying everything that others abandoned, together
with extra camp pails, pans, etc. \Yhen the Regiment would start out on a march,
Donnelly would have such a load of blankets, bedding, and camp and garrison
equipage, that little more than his head would show above the " fortification ''
when he got into the saddle. But on top of all would invariably be found the
evidence of a taste for music — his bugle and fiddle.

What a rollicking, happy, genial fellow Major Avery was ! I can almost hear
him now break iiito his favorite song :

" Come, all you jolly good fellows,
And stand up in a row,"

and ending with the refrain,

" I'm a rambling rake of poverty,
And the son of a gambolier."

Small-pox broke out in tlie Regiment during its stay at Turkey
Run. The patients were all removed, to a camp prepared for them
on the north side of the railroad. Under the skillful treatment of
Surgeon Clarke every case recovered, and but one retained the marks
of the dreadful disease.

An occasional relief from the emini of camp-life was afforded by
an attack on the pickets, or the stampeding of some horses by the
enterprising partisans who peopled the surrounding country. Some-
times the men were unceremoniously hustled into line, fresh from
sweet slumbers or an all-absorbing game of ciirds.

On one occasion, soon after Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine had re-
joined the Regiment, there were several shots hred in rapid succession
at the outskirts of the camp. It was quite late, and nearly every man
liad retired. The ground was covered with a light blanket of snow,

15S HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMEXT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

and it was very cold. Hardly had the reports of the shots died away
before Colonel Irvine's Yoice could be heard : " Fall in here, men,
quick ! Be lively, now ! " There was rattling of sabers, and hurried
voices of officers and non-commissioned officers, as they all hastened
to the point where Colonel Irvine's voice was urging haste. In a few
seconds the Colonel had marshaled a force of which he must have
felt proud — some with pants, shirt, and boots ; some with only the
shirt, drawers, and stockings — nearly all in undress uniform. But
they were prepared for business. All were armed ; some had revolvers,
some carbines, and some small-pox. Colonel Irvine made a sorry at-
tempt to get his force into line. While he was thus engaged, word
was received that the firing was done by a drunken soldier just re-
turned from AVarrenton, who wished to satisfy himself that his re-
volver would shoot if he should want to use it ; and the men scam-
pered back to their quarters, muttering imprecations on the head of
the disturber of their slumbers.

Great preparations had been made for a sumptuous dinner at regi-
mental headquarters one day about the beginning of the new year.
A fine roast of beef had been i)rovided, and Kiddie — " Bob Eidley "
he was called — an all-around player at headquarters, had arranged
with some lady friends out a little way from camp to roast it. The
meat was consigned to Bob's care, with the injunction to have it back
at a specified time, when old John, the colored cook, was to have the
rest of the material for the empty stomachs to wrestle with in readi-
ness. Time passed, the hour for Bob's coming Avent by, and no Bob,
no meat. Finally, the rebellious stomachs called for action. Bob
was evidently having a good time and had forgotten the meat. A
courier was dispatched to bring him and the roast in. The ground
was covered with snow. The courier started on liis errand, but after
passing through a light piece of wood between the camp and house
lie saw evidences of a struggle that convinced him that Bob and the
beef had been gobbled, and hastening back to camp he gave the.
alarm. In a few moments Adjutant Kennedy and Commissary Pres-
ton were galloping at the head of a small detachment of braves in
the endeavor to rescue poor old liob. Arriving at the point indicated
by the guide, tlie fence was found thrown down as if to provide for-
the passage of a number of horsrs, the snow was trani]dod and muddv
from many hoofs, and tliere in the snow lay the roast of beef just as
Bob had reeeiveil it before leaving camp. It was evident that his
captors had a good long start, but the pursuit was taken up and con-
tinued for several miles, but to no pnrjiose. The detachment re-

18G4 REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 150

turned to camp in the evening minus Bob and dinner. The old man
died in a rebel 2)rison.

The Tenth possessed two flags, both of which were received while
the Eegiment was stationed in Gettysburg, in February, 1862. One
was the regular cavalry standard issued by the Government; the
other, much the same in size and general appearance, was presented
by Miss Elizabeth Porter, of Niagara Falls. One of these flags, re-
duced to shreds, was forwarded in December to Colonel Lockwood L.
Doty, Chief of the Bureau of Military Statistics at Albany, N. Y., for
deposit in the military archives of the State. The receipt of the flag
was duly acknowledged by Colonel Doty, but in his official reports no
mention was made of it in the list of regimental flags in the archives.
The other standard, also worn to tatters, was so far dissipated at this
time that but a single star of the former constellation was left. This
flag remained in possession of Colonel Irvine. Adjutant Kennedy
plucked the single remaining star, still left clinging tenaciously to
tlie field of blue, and sent it to a lady in Xew York State, accom-
panied with some appropriate verses by the poet-surgeon of the Regi-
ment, Dr. Clarke. The poem was published in various newspapers in
the State, while the star of gold was carefully preserved in a beautiful
cate especially made for it.

During December efforts were made to secure the re-enlistment of
three fourths of the Regiment for another three years. Lieutenant
11. E. Haves was appointed recruiting officer. He entered vigorously
upon the work, and assisted by tlie commissioned officers, whose
moral support vras vouchsafed ])y the hopes of accompanying the
Regiment on its vacation, he soon secured the requisite number of
names to entitle the organization to return to its native State.

Captain Bliss rejoined the Regiment from leave of absence on the
:>d of January, 18<>4. The paymaster arrived and paid the men on
tiie 14th ; and on the 15th, in compliance wdth special order Xo. 11,
Army of the Potomac, of which the following is an extract, the Regi-
ment left camp at Turkey Run, Va., for Elmira, X. Y., the desig-
nated rendezvous. Only the old companies were eligible for re-
onllstment:

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,

hi'KciAL Orders No. 11:

Extract,

2. Three fourths of the following oriTvinization" having re-enlisted as veteran
volunteers, under the provisions of general orders of the War Department gov-
erning the subjo(.'t, the men so re-enlisted, as well as tho^e who have less than fif-

ICO HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1^04

teen months to serve, who have signed the required agreement, will procood in a
body with their olHcers to their re.<{)eetive States, and on arriving tliciein the
commanding oflicer will report through the Governor of the State to tlio :viperin-
tendent of the recruiting service for I'urtlier instructions, 'j'he QuarttUiiiri-ter's
Department will furnish the necessary transportation. . . . rompanies A, 1), C,
D, E, F, G, H, and non-commissioned staff, Tenth New York Cavalry, . . , tliree
fourths of the enlisted men. Tlie Lieutenjint-Colonel, one major, surg-c 11. aJja-
tant quartermaster, and commissary of the Regiment, will accompany tbo bat-
talion.

By command of Major-General Seij'J -'.'ick.
S. Williams, AssisLmt Adjulaiit-G eneral.

Captain Vanderbilt, of Company L, was left in command of camp
and that portion of the Kegiment which did not re-enlist. TLe de-
tachment arrived in Washington in the evening, and remained in the
Soldiers' Rest till 8 R 3r. of the IGth, when it left for Baltimore,
where it arrived at 5 A. m. next day, and, going via Northern Central
Railroad, arrived in Sunbnry at 9 p. m. of the 18th. Here the train
was side-tracked for a long time. Some of the citizens, who had as-
sembled to see the soldiers, told the boys that a rebel symparhiziiig
newspaper was printed jiust around the corner. Several of tlio en-
listed men, led by the loyal citizens, went to the printing-oirtco and
requested the proprietor to make a showing of the Stars and Stripes.
On his refusal to do .so the boys commenced the demolition of his
office. The presses were brokeji and the type pied and thro^vn into
the street. A diary of one of the men succinctly states it thus : " Ar-
rived in Sunbury at 9 P. M. and busted a printing-office." After the
dcstrtiction of this place, an elegant saloon, wiiich dispensed large
cpiantities of whisky and abuse (>£ h)ynl people, clidmed the atterition
of the "puriliers." With the h;ittk^-cry of '' Sir semper alpaca'' the
boys banged in the bungs of the whisky-barrels and titrned tlie liquid
into the streets and gave a large quantity of b*>er its freedom. Thci'e
was something of a crowd assembled, but neither resistance nor pro-
test was m.ade t<-> the righteous acts of the soldiers, and yet the affair
has been emblazoned on tiie pages of history as a " riot." Xot a com-
missioned officer of the Regiment was aware of what was bfing done,
nor did they learn of it until the train was about to start. This mav,
perhaps, account for so niucli whisky being WiiMcd,

Late in the evening tlu? journey was re.-nnied. and Elmira was
reached on tlie eveninir rf the il)th. From here tlie men v;erc far-
loughed and departed for various puints in the Suite, and the officers
were assigned to reirruiting servi<'e by (Jeneral A. S. Diven, superin-
tendent of recruiiing f':)r western New Yo]{.^. ]jy sp^^cial ord^er Xo.

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1SG4 CAPTALV ORDNER ASSUMES CO.MM:' \D OF COMPANY A. 161

195, headquarters siiperiiitciiflent oi YoinTitcer recniiling service,
dated Elmira, February 21, .18»J4, tlio oillcers on recruiting service
were ordered to join the Iicgimeut at Elmira without delay. On the
20th the command left Ehnira for tlio ivjut^ going via Xew York.
It arrived in the old camp at Turkiy Ivnu at 1 P. M. on Sunday,
March Gtli, marching on foot from ^\'arrei:ion Junction.

During the absence of the re-enhstcd ])ortion of the Ivegiment,
nothing of special interest occurred in r.a-vvi at Turkey Kun.

The next day after the regiuientnl r.:'inion, Major WocCi led a
scouting party of one hundred men to Sui pliur Springs, leaving camp
about midniglit. The same jiight eighty-eight recruits arrived for
the Eegiment, twenty-three of "whom were assigned to Company D.

A detachment was sent on picket on tl c Stb of March in a heavy
thunder-shower. On the same day C:r.=i,ti:u Crdner arrived and as-
sumed conijnandof Company A.

Early on the morning of the 18ih ^[ivjor Weed left camp with
one hundred and fifty men, destined for Grove Church to arrest a
woman, in pursuance of the following or^ler :

Headqi'arters Second Buigade, SecoZvL) .Diviska', Cavalry Cobps,

JlarcJi 17, 1SC4.
Major TuEOLx^KE TI. Weed, Tefft^ JS^e^o Von- C'CL\a:-i/.

Sir: In accordance with directions from c.'fvojry corps and division headquar-
ters you will proceed with the force under your comiiiand (one hundicd and fifty
men) to the places referred to in the accompanying statement of 31is3 Patton, and
possess yourself of the men and horses, arrest i\Irs. Sarah Monroe, and, after de-
stroying her house, bring her witlnn our iiiicb aud deliver her to tJie provost-
marshal-general.

You are sji'.-cially charged not to perrair yoMr (.■ nivuind to niaraud or commit
any depredations upon the propertv of any (•;(.";•- r,,- ,;long your line of march.

A written report of the extent to which tiiooo i'i<-iructions have been carried
out will be made by you to thc;^e he,ulqua)-'Li.-; ;;■.. .- u. afier your return as prac-
ticable.

By command of

Colonel J. Ikv!n' (jiaca, Commanding Brigade.

Jonx B. Maiti.and, Lieutenant and A. A. A. O.

, The following is the statement of 31 its ] Litton referred to :

IlEADQUAlliilK? FiFTn ARMY CoRPS,

JLurh 15, 1S64.

Statement of Jliss laflon, Stci'Tord Count i/, Virginia.

Miss Pat ton, living four (4) miles below drove Clmrch. in Stjifford County,

Virginia, states tiiat a woman by the n.ame of Sarah .Monroe, who has taken the

oath of allegiance, wliile coming within our liu.-s for subsistence stores brought

with her citizens' clothing and gave them to Ihror Ci\) members of the Eighty-

162 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 16G4

third Pennsylvania Regiment to enable them to desert; that on Monday of last
week these men [)assed out of our lin(^s as citizens and went to her home with her.
While there two (;2) of them were arrested by rebel scouts, for whom she sent for
the purpose. They were carried over the river as prisoners, they first being
robbed of all their money, about three hundred (300) dollars, which money and
their watch she now has. These rebel scouts harbor at her house ; and that this
is not the first time that Mrs. Monroe has decoyed our men to her house for the
purpose of robbing them ; that she has done so on several occasions before. .

One of these men is still at her house, or was, on Saturday night last, who, it
is reported, has promised to act as a spy and to conduct marauding bands of
horse-thieves within our lines. She thinks one of the men's name is *' \Yilliams."
Her informant is Mr. iMonroe (William), who lives a close neighbor to Mrs. Sarah
jMonroe. Mrs. Monroe lives on the road leading from Richards' Ford to Hart-
wood Church, three (3) miles from the church and two (2) miles from the ford.

Miss Patton also states that twenty-one (21) scouts came over on Saturday
night, and that Shadraan's band of twenty (20) men were yesterday near our lines;
that on Thursday night. of last week they captured nine (9) horses and six (0) men

of the Corps in Culpei)cr County. The sergeant they captured was badly

wounded; the horses are at Mr. John Hunt's house, near the Eagle Gold Mines,
Mr. Hunt has taken the oath of allegiance, but the horses are in charge of his
brother, who is in the rebel service.
Official :

(Signed) H. C. Weir, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Official :

John B. Maitland, Lieutenant and A. A. A. G.

Here is Major "Weed's account of the march to Mrs. Monroe's
house and her arrest : ^

It was about 2 a. m., on the ISth of April, 18G4, that Colonel Irvine, Major
Avery, Captain Snyder, and myself, were sitting in my tent in the camp near
Warrenton, having a social chat, which wiis broken in upon by an orderly from
Colonel Gregg, commanding the brigade, who presented Colonel Irvine with an
order for a field-oflicer to n-port to hcudtjuartors immediately. The Colonel
looked at Avery and then at me, read the order, and then said, *' Which one
goes?" Neither of us spoke. Tlie Colr.iiel picked up a pack of cards which hap-
pened to be lying on the taljle and said as he dealt them out, "The first Jack
goes." Well, I won. I started for lieadquarters. It was one of those terrible
dark nights, but I reached hendfjuariei-s after ridinc: into the small-pox camp by
mistake in making inquiries of the way. I reooived the order to proceed to Grove
Church and arrest Mi's. Monroe and bum her house.

I returned to camp, had my detail made, and was outside our lines before day-
light. \Yhen we reached Deep Run. near Grove Church, we met quite a squad of
the enemy, who olgected to our cro^sing the run ; but we were too many for them
and they gave way. We met i;n re ur l.'ss oj)p.x<ition all the way to Hartwood
Church, wiiich was about a mile from the h«>use of Miss Patton, where the Mon-
roe girl was. I left Captain liliss in charge, and taking twelve men went down
to the house. Mrs. Monnx; met us at the door. " Oli," she said, " how do vou'ns
all dof Get riglit oil and come in." 1 told her I had an order for her arrest.

1864 GENERAL GRANT ASSUMES COMMAND. 163

Then there was a change came over her ; she called us all kinds of hard names. I
told her that if she had anything in the house she wanted to save to get it out, as
1 was going to burn the ranch. The only way 1 could bring matters to a close
was to have one of the boys change the fire from the fireplace to the straw bed ;
then Mrs. Monroe thought of her trunk, which was in the loft. This I had re-
moved to the garden, where the lady made her toilet. Then she insisted on walk-
ing. If 1 remember correctly, Dick Tuke settled the matter by lifting her gently
up in front of him, and I have no doubt i\Irs. Monroe retained a vivid recollection
of the ride from her late home to Ilartwood Church. It was a lively one. On
joining the rest of the command we went into camp at Grove Church for the
night. The next day we returned to camp and delivered the prisoner to the
provost marshal, by whom she was sent to Washington, where she was incarcer-
• ated in the old Capitol Prison.

The same day the detachment returned to camp, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Irvine left for his home on leave of absence, sick.

On the 20th, Captain Vanderbilt and Lieutenant Graves arrived
in camp from leave of absence just in time to enjoy the generous dis-
pensation of snow, which fell to the depth of six inches the night
following.

General Grant, who had been made lieutenant-general, assumed
command of the armies of the United States on the 12th of March,
and on the 19th left IN'ashville for the Army of the Potomac, where
headquarters were announced to be. On the 24th orders were issued
from the adjutant-general's office consolidating the Infantry Corps of
the Army of the Potomac into three, to be known as the Second,
Fifth, and Sixth, and numerous changes in commanders of corps,
divisions, and brigades were announced. General Pleasonton was
relieved from the command of the Cavalry Corps, and was succeeded
by Major-General P. H. Sheridan, who had commanded a division of
infantry in the West. General Kilpatrick w^as transferred to General
Sherman's army, Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was assigned to
the command of the First Division, Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg
remained in command of the Second, and Brigadier-General J. H..
Wilson took command of the Third. The following was, the com-
position of the Cavalry Corps:*

CAVALRY CORPS.
Major-General Philip II. Sheridan.

ESCORT.

Sixth United States, Captain Ira W. Clafiin.
* Advance Print of Official Records, vol. xxxvi, Part I, p. 207-209.

1G4: HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

FIRST DIVISIOX.

Brigadicr-Genonil Alfred T. A. Torbert.

I^h'st Brigade.

Biigadier-Gcneral George A. Ci:ster.

First Michigan, Lieuteuant - Colonel
Teter Stagg.

Fifth jMichigan, Colonel Russell A. Al-
ger.

Sixth 3Iichigdn, Major James H. Kidd.

Seventh ]\Iiehigan, Major Henry W.
Granger.

Second Brigade.
Colonel Thomas C. Detin.

Fourth New York,* Lieutenant-Colonel
William R. Parnell.

Sixth New York, Lieutenant - Colonel
William H. Crocker.

Ninth New York, Colonel William Sack-
ett.

Seventeenth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-
Colonel James Q. xiuderson.

lieserve Brigade.
Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt.
Nineteenth New York (First Dragoons), Colonel Alfred Gibbs.
Sixth Pennsylvania, jMajor James Starr.
First United States, Captain Nelson B. Sweitzer.
Second United States, Ca[)tain Theophilus F. Rodenbough.
Fifth United States,f Captain Abraham K. Arnold.

SECOND DIVISION.

Briijadier-General David McM. Gregg.

F'irsf Brigade.
Brigadier-General Henry E. Davies, Jr.
First Massachusetts, Major Lucius M.

Sargent.
First New Jersey, Lieutenant-Colonel

John W. Kester.
Sixth Ohio, Colonel William Stedman.
First Pennsylvania, Colonel John P.

Tavlor.

Second Brigade.
Colonel J. Irvin Gregg.

First Maine, Colonel Charles H. Smith.

Tenth New York, Major M. Henry
Avery.

Second Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Joseph P. Brinton.

Fourth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel George H. Covode.

Eighth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Samuel Wilson.

Sixteenth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-
Colonel John K. Robison.

third division.

Brigadier-General James II. Wilson.

Escort.

Eighth Illinois (detachTncnt), Lieutenant William W. Long.

* Detached guarding trains.

f Ccimpanies B, F, and K, under Captain Julius W. 3Iason, detached as escort
to Licutcnant-Goneral U. S. Grant.

ISOi riEORGANIZATION OF THE CONFEDEIlATi: CAVALRY. 105

First Ih'igadc. Secovid Jh-igade,

Colonel TiiiOTiiY 'Si. Ji^iiYAX, Jr. ^, , , ^ ,. r<

,_.-,_,, ' Colonel Gi;o'i(,K if. CiiAPM A ■„

Colonel John B. Mi-Lxtosii *

First Conni'cticut,]\JajorEi;i.SLUsljlakes- Third Indiana, ^lajor William P'lLi j^i.
lee. Eig-htii New York', J.i'.-uteuani-Cc'un'jl

Second New York, Colonel Otto liar- William H. }i r.ijaTnin.

haus. First Yerraont, EiculeTuinl-Coloiu;! Au-

Fifth New York, Lien tcaiant- Colon"! dison W. Piw^M^n.

John Ilammond.

Eighteenth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-
Colonel William P. ikinton.

The following; batteries, constitiuiiis: the First r»ri2^ade oi Uie
artillery of the army, were assigned to the CayaJry Corps, all li ruler
the command of Cnpt.'ii]i James ?>!. Ivobortson :

New York Light, Sixth r>attcry, Captain Joseph W. ?^laii:ia.

Second L^nited Stales, Batteries Band L, Lieutenant Edwa'-J Iloaton.
Second United States, BaLtery D, Lieutenant Edwarei B. ^Yilliston-

Second United States, I'attery M, Lieutenant Alexander C. M. Pemiingtori.

Fourth United States, Battery A, Tiicutcnant Rufus King, Jr.

Fourth United States, Ba! tcries C and E, Lieatenaut Charles L. Fiizhugh.

The Confederate Cavalry Corpy, as reorganized about a nioiu,.'i
later, was made up a.s follows : f

CAVALRY CORPS.
• Major-General James E. B. Stuaht.

HATHPTOX*:- DiN'ISIOX.

Major-General Wau3: Hamptox.

Young's Brinade. Roesa's Briaade.

Brigadier-General Pihmce >L B. Young. Brigadier-General Tuomas L. Rosslu.

Seventh Georgia, Colonel William P. Seventh Virginia, Colonel Richard IL

White. Dulany.

Ci)bb's (Georgia) Legion, Colonel G. J. Eleventh Virgini'i, .

Wright. Tsvelt'th Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel

Phillips (Georgia) Legion, . Thomas B. aIji -sic.

Twentieth Georgia Battalii^n, Lieuten- Thirty-fifth Virginia Battalion,

aiit-Colonel John '^l. Alillcn. - — -■.

JelT Davis (3Iississip}'i) Legion,

* Assigned May 5th.

f Advance print of Ofilcial Records, vol. xxxvi, Pari T, p. 1027.

100 iTISTOKY 0]-' rUK TENTH EEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

Butler's Brigade.

Br!|j:T<Ii<-T-Creneral IMattitkw C. Butler.

Fourth ^^lJ'.)ltl Caroliim, Colonel B. Iluger Rutlcdge.

Fiiili S^'Uili Carolina, Colonel John Dunovaut.

Si.xtli SoiiLli Carolina, CoIodcI Hugh K. Aiken.

FITZnUGQ lee's I'I VISION.

Llajar-Cxciieral Pit/.hugu Lee.
Lomaz's Briyadt. Wickham's Brigade.

Brii^udhT-Gensral LuNsrcsRi) L. Lo- Brigadier-General Williams C. Wick-
si ax. HAM.

Fifth Yir;:inia, Colonei Ilcnr}^ C. Pate. First Virginia, .

Sixi i Vii.nuia, Colonel Jol:!i S. Green. Second Virginia, Colonel Thomas T.
Firi-'.nr'i Virginia, Colonei Charles R. Alunford.

Coil ins. Third Virginia, Colonel Thomas H.

Owen.
Foiirtii Virginia, .

Y.'ILLIAM H. F. LEk's DIVISION.

I\Iajor-General Willl\m Yi. F. Lee.

Chambliss's Brigade. Gordoiis Brigade.

Briga(-i;^"- General tloHN R. Ckam- n • t ^ , t t> ^-,

, Brigadier-General James B. Gordon.

■ BLISS, Jr. ®

Kinth Vfgiuia, . First North Carolina, .

Tc"-;!', \'ir|ii!iia, — . Second North Carolina, Colonel Clinton

Thir'ceiiUi Virginia, . M. Andrews.

Fifth North Carolina, Colonel Stephen
B. Evans.

noRSK artillery.
Slajor R. Pri:ston Cuew.

Breat/ied's Battalion.
Jlajor James Breathed.
Harr'.-? (South Carolina) battery. Shoemaker's (Virginia) battery.

JoiinsiouV: (Virgiiiia) battrry. Thomson's (Virginia) battery.

?u'c' ;::,-u\.t\s (Virginia) battery.
I.

p.y ilie tri-moiiihly return of tlio Army of the Potomac, April 30,
IS'J !, tV.,>re were sliown to be " present for duty " in tlie Cavalry Corps,
GIG oHicers and l,r)/2(tl) enlisted men.*

Ey tiio abstraet from lleld-return of the Army of Northern
Vir-iTiIa, April 20, JSG4, there were reported "present for duty"

■'^ Advanc- print of Ofheial Records, voL xxxvi. Part I, p. lOS.

1864 MARCH TO MORRISV JLLE. IGT

625 ofilcers and 7,932 enlisted men in the Confederate Cavalry
Corps. *

Major McClellan, Stuart's assistant adjutant -general, says, in
mentioning:: the attack made by AVickham on Sheridan's inoving col-
umn on the 0th of May, 1804, that AVickliam, Lomax, and Gordon's
brigades numbered between three and four thousand rnen.f These
three brigades contained ten regiments, leaving fifteen regiments in
the remaining brigades of the corps. The same ratio lor the entire
corps would give Stuart about ten thousand under his command, the
number of men, approximately, under Slicridan on the raid to Rich-
mond.

On the 25th, Hospital Steward John E. Cowles left for "Washing-
ton in charge of all the sick of the Second Division, i^mong the
number who left the Tenth w^as Lieutenant H. E. Hayes, of Company
I. This proved to be the termination of this gallant officer's service
with the Iiegiment. He had remained with it constantly from its
organization. His zeal, ability, and elliciency were recognized by all.
No hand was more serviceable, no pen more gifted, and no heart
more responsive to the demands or requirements of the men than
his. Of a genial and kind disposition he had made many friends,
who regretted his departure, the more as it was felt tl^at his talents
and disposition Avould be certain of deserved reward in promo-
tion in the active service upon which the Regiment was about to
enter.

Lieutenant Van Tuyl arrived on the 26th, bringing ninety-five
more recruits. Drills, reviews, inspections, and parades were contin-
ued from day to day preparatory to the hard service which was near
at hand.

Companies K and ]\r, wdiich had been on orderly- duty in the
Secoud Corps since the 23d of August, IS'".:!, were ordered to rejoin
the Regiment on the 31st of March. On the same day Romanzo
Phillips, a popular atfaclie of the quartermaster's department, died of
malignant scarlet fever in the hospital at AVarrenton.

A detacliment went on picket near Bcalton on the 1st of April,
and were relieved by the First Maine on the 3d.

Ten more recruits came to camp, fully armed and equipped, on
the lOtli. On the same day the Regiment moved out at 2 p. m. and
marclied to ^Eorrisville, where it arrived at 0 p. >r., and established a

* Advance jiriiit of OlTicial Records, vol. xxx, p. 1'21>S.
f Cami-taigDs of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 410.

lOS IIISTOUY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1SG4

line of pickets. 'J'lic regimental camp at Turkey Run was changed
to an adjacent knoll by order of General Greg.2^ on tlie 11th.

Lieutenant T. C. Wliite and Private William Buton were fired
upon on tlie lltli near the camp, and Buton was slightly wounded.

A scouting party, consisting of six men under command of Ser-
geant lleynolds, of Company A, went to Tockett's Mills on the 14:th,
retu)'ning to camp with a prisoner named Wheatley, of Company II,
Fourth Virginia Cavalry.

Private Henry Jordan, of Company D, was killed, and privates
Lav/rence and Enos, of the same company, and private Ayers, of
Company B, were wounded, in a skirmish near Morrisville, on^ Sun-
day, April 17tli.

A skirmish occurred near Tockett's Mills on the same day, in
wliicl) two men belonging to Company B were wounded and taken
prisoners, one of whom afterward escaped and arrived in camp on the
19th. One rcl)el was killed in this skirmish. Scouting parties were
sent in every direction for guerrillas. The feeling against the citi-
zens of the surrounding country was very bitter. It was generally
believed that they were privy to the frequent murders of Union sol-
diers, if they were Jiot the actual perpetrators of the crimes. [NTone
of the scouting parties succeeded, in finding any of the sujiposed
guerrillas.

^londay, April 18th, was the dfiy set apart for a review of Gregg's
division by the new corps commander, General Sheridan. The stir-
ring bugle-blasts brought the men into line, and the march was taken
up to the broad fields to the west of A\'arrenton, where the Second
Division was fast assembling. After all preparations had been per-
fected, the troo])s were marched past tlie little General who was to lead
thcjn in the campaign now near at hand. All eyes were turned on
the Major-General commanding, who was evidently welh pleased with
the troopers of the Second Cavalry Division. After passing the re-
viewing stand, instead of marching back to the camps at Turkey
JJun, the First Maine, Sixteenth IV-nnsylvania, and the Tenth, were
marched rapidly to Sulphur Springs, where it was re})orted a consid-
erable force of rebel cavalry v/ere assembled. Xo enemy was found
there, and the regiments all returned to their camps, tired and hun-
gry, about 8 P. M.

Three prisoners were brought in by a scouting party from the
Regiment on the 2 2d,

Major Weed, commanding a detachment of one Inindred and fifty
men at Morrisville, received insiructions from General Slieridan on the

d
n

■'Y

:d
at

in
n-
ho
lia

3rs

ifi-

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die

.!lg

ley

^oil
lad
ir-ii
.l.h-
iow

*o TLNTH r,EW)ORh.t O \1M\
In th eamDai?5of \

ISC-I GOOD-BY TO TURKEY RUN. 109

23d to proceed with bis command to Grove Church to strengthen the
force there, as it was thought a concentration of rebel cavah-y ^vas
going on at Fredericksburg for the purpose of capiuring the force of
two hundred Union troops at Grove Church. Major Weed reported
with his detachment to Colonel Harliaus, Second ]Scw York Cavalry,
in command at Grove Church, the next day.

Captain Snyder with fifty men made a reconnaissance to United
States Ford on the morning of the 25th, and returned in the eveniug
With four prisoners.

The detachment under Major Weed, numbciing three hundred
and four men, was relieved by the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry on
the 26th and returned to Morrisville,-and thence to camp at Turkey
Eun the following day. Lieutenant Brinkerholf was assigned to duty
with Company B on the 26th.

Friday, April 29th, the Second Division broke camp at Turkey
Eun and marched out, never to return. At 4 p. m. the Tenth crossed
the Eappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and a little later encamped at
Paoli Mills, near Brandy Station.

An inspection of the Eegimcnt, numbering five hundred and
twenty-four men, took place on the last day of April. The division
was encamped in the midst of the army, the white tents covering the
territory as far as the eye could reach to the south.

The 1st of ^lay brought dismay, to the officers of the cavalry in
the form of order jSTo. 177, whicli required all officers using Govern-
ment horses to turn them over to the quartermaster. Some of tlic
oihcers made applications for leaves of absence to visit Pennsylvania
for the purpose of purchasing horses ; but General Gregg considt^T-
ately returned the applications and called the attention of the olTicers
to recently issued orders to the ellicct that any officer making applica-
tion for leave of absence, unless accom])anied with a surgeon's cortifl-
cate of disability, "svould be liable to dismissal from service. It looJced
rather serious for the officers, who were thus suddenly deprived of
tlieir horses, with no opportunity for obtaining a remount ; but on the
evening of the following day the welcome order came permitiiiig
them to retain the Government horses until further orders, and they
continued to use them to the end of the war.

While encam2)ed at Paoli ^lills on the 2d of ^lay, the sacred soil
rose in apparent rebellion at the Yankee soldiers' viiit. The day hi\d
l»een quiet, with verv little air stirring, up to about 6 p. :m., at which
time the attention of the men in camp was directed to the south-
ward. Something was moving toward tlie camps, hiding from view

170 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

the entire landscape in its passage. It was an awful spectacle. ^len
viewed the approaching curtain with blanched cheeks and palsied
tongues. Presently its near approach revealed its true character. It
was a cloud of dust — Virginia real estate on the rampage. xVs the
hurricane struck the camps it leveled tents and trees, filling the hearts
of the men with consternation and their eyes with dust. Rain fol-
lowed in generous supply, and the dust was again transformed into
its native element — mud.

" Boots and saddles " resounded through the camps on the morning
of the 3d, and at 9 a. m. the march was taken up and Kichardsville
reached a little after noon. It was a chilly night, but no fires were
permitted ; the men were compelled to shiver, with only hard-tack
to appease their hunger. A copy of General Meade's address to the
army was placed in Major Avery's hands just as liis folding-bed had
been prepared for service. The address set at rest all doubts as to
why the boys were shivering near the Rapidan that night — the Union
army had its baggage checked for Richmond.

Leaving Richardsville at 2 A. M., the Second Brigade moved in
the following order: Second Pennsylvania, Tenth New York, Bat-
tery, First Maine, Fourth, Sixteenth and Eighth Pennsylvania. The
First Brigade had the advance. The Second Brigade crossed at Ely's
Ford at 7 a. 3[. and moved out on the road to Chancellorsville, where
it arrived at 8 A. m. A further march of three or four miles brought
the command to Aldrich's Cross-roads. Here the advance had some
skirmishing and preparations were made for action, but beyond a few
picket shots notliing of a warlike nature occurred, and the Regiment
remained all night in readiness for action.

" To horse ! " at 4 A. m. of the 5th, was caused by a few picket
shots. At early dawn the cannonading commenced on the infantry
line. About noon General Sheridan passed along the front of the
Regiment on his way to army headquarters, and a little later the
Third Cavalry Division, under General Wilson, became heavily en-
gaged on the Catharpin road, beyond Todd's Tavern. General Gregg
hastened witli the Second Division to AVilson's relief at 1 p. m. Al-
though the day was warm, the horses were urged to the gallop, and as
the command neared the scene of conflict it became evident th;it Gen--
eral AVilson's command was having a hard struggle. A regiment was
immediately sent down the road through tlie Avoods beyond Todd's
Tavern on a mounted cliarge ; while others, including the Tenth,
were hastily dismounted and sent into tlie woods on either side of the
road. Th<' arrival of Gregg's division was most o})portune, as Wil-

jSI

#X;

H f

k !:

itv.«A>^v.iW-aA.-

S,M.i.«..,i;.;,;,*\ .,..,:&*&.

CAPTAIN NORMAN W. TORREY,
Co. D.

1864 FIGHTING AT TODD'S TAVERN AND CATHARPIN ROAD. I71

•

son's men were hemmed in on every side, and fighting desperately to
extricate themselves from their unpleasant position. The road was
opened by General Gregg's prompt action and General Wilson's di-
vision relieved. Later the Tenth was withdrawn from the line,
mounted, and sent back a short distance to guard the approaches to
the rear of the division from the left. While moving up a road
through the woods, a voice in the immediate front suddenly called
out : " Look out there, Yanks ; you'll get hit ! " followed by the sharp
crack of several carbines. It was unnecessary to repeat the admoni-
tion. The Regiment was hastily dismounted, the horses sent back, and
skirmishing commenced. So near were the two lines that the men
bantered each other between shots for some time. Finally, some of
General Custer's brigade came upon them from the rear and the
enemy beat a hasty retreat. The Regiment remounted and joined
the brigade near Todd's Tavern in the afternoon. Picket firing con-
tinued during the night along the front.

At night, on this the first day's engagement under the new cav-
alry commander, he sent a dispatch to General Meade recounting the
attack on Wilson, and says, " General Gregg attacked the enemy and
drove them back to Beech Grove, distance about four miles." In tliis
dispatch he evinces that restlessness of spirit which soon made him a
terror to his foes. Guarding wagons he evidently considered as much
the province of infantry as cavalry, for he says, " Why can not in-
fantry be sent to guard the trains, and let me take the offensive ? ''

At daybreak on the 6th cannonading was resumed on the infantry
line to the right. The day opened clear and warm, the woods burn-
ing in every direction. The fighting commenced in Gregg's front at
an early hour, and was continued briskly until about 9 a.m. The
enemy were driven through the woods to the east of Todd's Tavern.
The fighting was kept up during the day, the Second and Eighth
Pennsylvania and Tenth New York being most actively engaged.
General Humphreys, chief of staff of the Army of the Potomac, says,
" Gregg met Fitzhugh Lee's division at Todd's Tavern, repulsing the
enemy's attacks handsomely."* At about 4 P. m. the Regiment fell
back beyond Piney Branch Church and encamped. At the same
time the trains, which had been parked hear Chancellorsville, were
moved back to Ely's Ford. Rations were issued to the Regiment
after dark, and the men sought rest for the night in a field of mud.

As soon as the fog had risen on the morning of the 7th, the Tenth

* Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 51.

172 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1804

advanced a line of skirmishers and encountered tlio enerny at Todd's
Tavern behind barricades, f roQi which ilio} were dri ven after a brief
resistance Continuing, they yielded the ground of the preceding
day's conflict and retired into the second piece of wood east of
Todd's Tavern. Here a heavy force was encountered, and the fight-
ing became very severe. Finally, as our line begau to \Yaver, Colonel
Gregg appeared, urging the men to remain firm, r.vA by his words
and example succeeded in holding the line. About 3 r. m. the bri-
gade fell back to Todd's Tavern, and the Tenth dismounted and took
position behind light breastworks. The rebels in heavy force charged
on the line at five o'clock and were handsomely rejHilsed. As they
came on with the familiar yell, filling a deep cut where the road en-
tered the opposite woods from Gregg's position, a section of our bat-
tery opened on them at short range, and the concentrated fire of the
carbines of the brigade added to the discomfiture of the enemy, who
halted, and being pressed in the narrow defile by tlieir comrades in
the rear, presented more the appearance of a mob than a body of sol-
diers. Their officers, however, displayed great heroism as they vainly
urged the men forward. The charging force retired to tlie cover of
the wood as soon as they could extricate themselves fi'om the gorge
in the road, and the opposing lines settled down io tlio use of the
carbine, the firing across the open space being continued late into
the night. The Tenth bivouacked on the battlc-fiold with the rest of
the brigade.

Then on the 8th the brigade again assumed the ofi'ensive, ad-
vancing to the opposite wood in the morning and driving the enemy
gradually back until a place was reached where the road forked.
Here General Gregg, after taking a careful survey of the ground, pro-
ceeded with the Tenth Xew York and the Eiglith. Tcnnsylvania up
the left-hand or what appeared to be the main ro-^d, leaviug Colonel
Gregg with the balance of the Second Brigade at the junction of the
two roads. The Tenth led the way on the road through the wood,
which was hedged in by dense underbrush part of the way. As the
advance-guard rounded a turn in the road, a little cannon loaded
with grape and canister w^as discharged, point-blaniv', in their faces,
the missiles whistling through the trees like hail, au«l although the
discharge was made within five or six rods of them, strangely enough
neither man nor horse was injured. The little gun vrent whirling up
the road and out of sight instantly. On reaching t])o open, a few rods
farther on, a beautiful i)anorama was spread out before the troops.
In front was a valley, and on the o])posite slope a few soldiers and

18G4 ACCOUNT V>Y LIEUTENANT VAN TUYL. I73

some ]);t::^ga;^a^-wagons, looking much like a bait for drawing the
Union 'ivwi])s on. A liiilo break in the woods away off on the right
discloso'l ;i voliunn of mounted men moving toward our rear. Gen-
eral (ir- i;i: ilirected the skirmishers to be called in, and the com-
mand was iiafciily marched back to the junction of the roads, w^hich
was rcacb.vd just in time to assist in repulsing the rebel force already
mentionrMl. in the severe engagement wdiich ensued. Private Cole-
man, ot ("f!:ipany G, was killed, Lieutenant Gait slightly, and Ser-
geant StiL>! ia.s and Private Main, of the same company, severely
w>}iiiulcd, the- latter being taken prisoner. Private Drown, of Com-
pany }'i, Avts also severely wounded.

Lientei^anl (afterward Captain) Van Tuyl writes as follows re-
garding liHs day's operations:

AtT '<l.rs Tavern, on the 8th of May, 1864, Lieutenant Charley Pratt with
one bailali'U ^vns on the loft of tlie road, and I had charge of the one on the right.
We mlvanci'd t^i rough the Avoods for a mile, driving the rebel skirmishers before
us, but ri;i;ii!y eaaio to an open space, and a few rods from the woods was a steep
descent. As .ve cume out of the woods a whole brigade rose up and gave us a
volley. Th' y lirid high and but few men were hit. I remember that but two of
nunc wero sh«jt — l>oth tiill men. One was a fellow named Coleman, who was six
ft.-et sii inclu's in lielght ; tlie other one's name I do not recall. We returned
sonie\'-huL f;i>t< r than we went. Charley Pratt said afterward there were ten
rebels .'X'ttchiiig for his coat-tail for more than a mile.

During a lull in the fighting of this day, Elias Evans, of Company
D, who ]:ad been watching for something on which to display his
juark^^iiiansliip, saw three or four of. the enemy emerge from cover.
Kvans called out, "Now, boys, just see me scatter those fellows!"
IIo raised his carbine, took aim, and pressed the trigger; but he
didn't observe the scattering, for just at that instant a Confederate
sharp^liooter who had drawn a bead on him fired, the bullet grazing
Evans's neck and causing it to swell and burn as if a red-hot bar of
iron had seared it.

The brigade fell back, contesting the ground to the position from
which the advance was made in the morning, the rebels following
and occu])ying the edge of the timber across the open space. The
commands of the Confederate officers could be plainly heard in mak-
ing dispositions of their troops. The Tenth occupied a position on
the left or south side of the road. The boys began a hasty collection
of such material as would answer for breastworks, while a band on
the rebel line struck up, playing the Bonnie Blue Flag and other
Southern airs. When the band ceased jdaying our boys cheered.

174 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

Presently one of the bands on the Union line, away to the left, began
playing. About eight o'clock an aide came along the line with orders
for the officers to move their commands back to Todd's Tavern. A
few rods in rear of the position the men had just vacated a heavy line
of earthworks had been thrown up by the infantry. Passing through
these the Regiment soon reached Todd's Tavern, the men were
mounted, and commenced a movement to the rear. The roads were
blocked with the ambulance trains bearing the wounded from the
front and the woods were on fire, so that the march was attended
with some inconveniences, marching sometimes single file through
the tangled underbrush by the roadside ; but the boys had got used
to all these things and took them quite philosophically. Finally, Al-
drich's was reached and the command bivouacked late at night.

During the day Quartermaster Graves went to the front from near
Ely's Ford with twenty wagons to assist in removing the wounded to
Fredericksburg.

The hope of a short respite as the Regiment settled down at Al-
drich's was dispelled by orders issued to the proper officers to draw
and issue rations and forage the same night.

Monday, May 9th, came all too soon to the tired troopers of the
Cavalry Corps. The rising sun looked like a ball of fire through the
smoky atmosphere. The drowsy veterans were aroused from their
slumbers by the bugles' blare ; staff-officers were early astir, galloping
hither and yon; the troopers were busily engaged in preparation to
respond to the next call of the bugle — *' Boots and saddles ! " When
the Tenth moved out into the broad, open field, an inspiring sight
was presented. Many of the regiments had already arrived and taken
position, while others were fast assembling. Ten thousand horsemen
in solid columns were marshaled on the plain, their tattered and torn
battle-flags hanging lazily from the staffs in the quiet morning air,
telling the silent story of long and hard service by those who marched
beneath their folds. Supply trains and ambulances had been reduced
to the least possible num.ber for the requirements of the movement
about to take place ; a rigid inspection had relegated to the rear all
men and horses of questionable physical ability. Every regiment of
the Cavalry Corps was numbered in the solid mass; every individual
was looking anxiously toward the Fredericksburg road, where a knot
of officers and orderlies were assembled. These were General Sheri-
dan with his staff and escort. Speculation as to the destination and
purpose of the corps was freely indulged in, but few indeed judged
either correctly.

18C4 START ON THE RAID TO RICHMOXD. 175

Presently a movement of the troops on the right begins; the
great mass of cavalry begins to' spin out in column of fours on the
road to Fredericksburg, and gradually the grand pageant dissolves
into a long line of moving horsemen, enveloped in tlie tale-bearing
dust, by Avhich the enemy later in the day are apprised of the move-
ment.

The First Division, under General Merr;tt, had the advance, fol-
lowed by the Third, commanded by General "VYilson ; the Second,
under General Gregg, being last in the order of march.

^Marching toward Fredericksburg a few miles, the column changed
direction to the south, crossing the river, and moved on the old Tele-
graph road across the flank of the rebel army.

As the sound of the cannonading between the opposing armies
grew more and more to the right and rear, the inspiration suddenly
seized the men that they w^ere on a raid. Then the Confederate
cavalry, guided by the clouds of rising dust, sped to the attack.
Wickham's brigade, being nearest, was precipitated upon the moving
column, striking the Sixth Ohio Cavalry in flank near Jarrold's Mills.
The attack was gallantly made, but was as gallantly met by the Buck-
eye boys.

Major McClellan says :*

The Sixth Ohio was now re-enforced by the First New Jersey, and the rear-
guanl, thu'j strenj^thenod, made a determined stand near Mitchell's shop. Wick-
luira ftttrtckiil promptly, but made no impression.

Kcwhing Jarrold's Mills, the grain and flour stored in the mill
were dt-.st roved. At 9 P. M. the Regiment bivouacked at Hamilton's
Cros>iiig, on the North Anna River. Custer's brigade, of the First
Division, was sent to Beaver Dam during the afternoon. ,There they
capturtnl two trains of cars with locomotives, and recaptured two
hundrtd and seventy-eight Union soldiers en route to Richmond as
pri.*onerij of war.f A million and a half rations also fell into the

• Tho t'ainpaijrns of Sumrt's Cavalry, pp. 409, 410.

f Tlu- tjarues of the otticors recaptured here, as published in the New York
Herald of May 17. ls*;4, are as follows:

VoVrxA ( harles K. I^h.lps. Seventh Maryland ; Colonel Tallcy, First Pennsyl-
rania Kcmtvo^; Licuteiiaiu-Coloncl Charles' II. Tay, Tenth New Jersey ; Captain
Henry A. Wik-y, One Huiulred and Fourth New York; Captain William H.
Franklin. T.-!Uh New Jersey; Captain Bradford R. Wood, Forty-fourth New
York; iJ.nitenant Cliarlos Davis, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves; Lieutenant G.
P. MichiuLs Fifty-sixth iVnnsylvnnia: Captain Bennett, Forty-fourth New York ;
Lieuttnant and Ailjutant Juckland, Sixteenth Michigan; Lieutenant Benjamin

176 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

hands of General Custer, which were burned, the flanies Hghting up
the country for miles around.^

The morning of the 10th the men were rudely awakened by the
sharp report of artillery near by and the screeching and bursting of
shells in their midst. The enterprising enemy had brought a battery
close upon the bivouac during the night, and taking position in the
timber on the hills to the rear, opened a brisk fire on the camp at
daybreak. The boys mounted and resumed the " on to Kichmond "
without breakfast or even waiting to perform their toilets. Fording
the North Anna at Hamilton's Crossing, the Regiment took its place
in the line of march and commenced the second day's tramp through
the stifling dust. Skirmishing was kept up on the flanks during the
greater part of the day. About three o'clock the Tenth was ordered
out upon the right flank to do picket duty until the column had
passed, with instructions to join the brigade at Ground Squirrel
Bridge. Aiter posting the pickets. Major Avery went to a house
near by to learn the nearest way to Ground Squirrel Bridge. Two
pretty girls responded to the knock at the door.

" "Will you please inform me of the nearest route to Ground Squir-
rel Bridge, ladies ? " said the Major, raising his hat.

" No, sir, we will not ! " said the foremost one. *' If we tell you,
you will go and burn it ; and I should hardly think you'd have the
assurance to ask Southern people to guide you to the destruction of
their own property." Before the Major could recover from this cold-
water bath, the bright miss opened on a lecture about subjugation.

A. Pine, Tenth New Jersey ; Lieutenant Horn, Thirteenth Massachusetts, wounded
and right arm amputated, left with the enemy ; Captain E. F. Anderson, Seventh
Maryland, wounded in three places, left with the enemy; Lieutenant William
Patten, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves; Lieutenant Taggart, First Pennsylvania
Reserves; Lieutenant Brigp^s, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves; Lieutenant L. K.
Plummer, Sixteenth Maine; Lieutenant Sylvester Crossley, One Hundred and
Eighteenth Pennsylvania Reserves. The last-named officer, Lieutenant Sylvester
Ci:ossley, of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Reserves, had been
captured in a night charge on what was known as Laurel Hill. This officer had
formerly been confined in the Columbia (S. C.) prison, and while there was a mess-
mate of Captain David Getman, Jr., of Company I, of the Tenth New York Cav-
alry, with whom he made his escape. On his recapture by Custer at Beaver Dam,
he accompanied the cavalry to Ilaxall's Landing, from whence he was sent to Wash-
ington, rejoining his regiment in about two weeks. lie was again taken prisoner
on the picket-line at Bethesda Church early in June, 18G4, escaped February 14,
1865, and returned to his regiment just after Lee's surrender, about the 'time of
President Lincoln's assassination.

1864 ENGAGEMENT AT GROUND SQUIRREL BRIDGE. 177

etc. " You Yankees mistake the character of the people you are try-
ing to subjugate. Why, sir, \vie never knew what it was to work until
the exhausted condition of our country by reason of this war made it
necessary for us to do so. The gown I now wear was made by my
own hands from the raw material ; that's the way we ladies of the
South will aid in the defense of our homes by working while the men
are fighting," and she cast an admiring look upon her home made
garment.

" Well," said the Major, " if the war has been the means of teach-
ing your people to work and to take a pride in it, as you appear to, it
has been productive of some good."

After some further conversation the young lady softened in her
demeanor and gave the desired information. A little later the Regi-
ment left, and after they had reached and crossed the bridge it was
burned. No doubt this bright little miss reproached herself for hav-
ing given the information that she undoubtedly felt had resulted in
the burning of the bridge, although the Tenth had no hand in it.

After crossing the South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge the
men cooked supper, groomed their horses, and enjoyed a good night's
rest. The reliable First Elaine was picketing along the river, and a
feeling of perfect security pervaded the command.

The boys were astir early on the morning of the 11th. Horses
were groomed, breakfast hastily prepared and eaten, and the march
was about to be resumed, when rapid firing and the familiar yell
from the rear was followed by a sudden breaking in upon our camp
and regiment of a torrent of wild horsemen. In an instant the
Tenth, too, was thrown into confusion and carried along with the be-
wildered muss. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that no one was
prepared for resistance. The Tenth had been ordered to the support
of tlic First Elaine, and was just preparing to move forward when the
cyclone came. Xone of the boys appear to have retained a very clear
recollection of just how the thing occurred or where the Regiment
waa " when last seen " ; but all are agreed that the Regiment as a unit
did not remain there long. They stood not " upon the order of go-
ing." In point of fact there was not much order to stand upon.
Some went via the wood-road, while others sought the freedom of
tlie broad fields to the right. For a few moments it was every man
for hinij^elf and the rebels take the hiudermost. The wood-road be-
came blocked ; but a few of the men still remained cool in this bewil-
dering rush and were doing good service with their carbines. - In the
midst of the surging mass the tall form of the gallant Colonel Gregg
12

178 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

towered like a spire above a city as he vainly sought to stop the panic-
stricken crowd. The men of the different regiments were blended in
the rush. It was one of those unaccountable panics which sometimes
seize bodies of men without cause. These were all excellent men,
needing but a show of resistance to bring them to their senses and
duty. A small clearing by the roadside gave opportunity for the
formation of troops, and reining out his horse, Commissary Preston
called for volunteers for a charge. A handful of men had responded
to the call, and among others, Captain Charles Treichel, the di-
Tision mustering officer, swung into line.* Declining the command,
which his rank entitled him to, he urged prompt action, and away
went the party down the road w^th sabers drawn, meeting the rebels
in a hand-to-hand fight. It was a brilliant and determined little
charge, and caused a halt in the rebel advance that gave sufficient
opportunity for the return of reason to the bewildered troops.

Sergeant (afterward Captain) John P. White, writing of this af-
fair, says :

Our squadron, A and L, were, I think, about in the center of the Regiment,
and preserved their formation quite well until the companies in the rear rushed
through it. It soon got very hot, and about a dozen of us were engaged in a
hand-to-hand fight. John R. May bury, of Company L, was one of our number.
A rebel thrust his saber through Maybury, puncturing his belt and clothing and
striking his spine. Another reb was sabering one of our boys, when Ed Stark
rode up, and placing his carbine against his back, pressed the trigger and reduced
the effective fighting force of the enemy one. While we were riding about and
banging away at every rebel we could see, I noticed Joel Frey, of Company L,
take deliberate aim at me and fire. I was so close to him the powder almost
burned my face. After the fight I asked him, in no very pleasant mood, what he
shot at me for, and he replied that he shot a reb just behind me who had his saber
ready to strike. Of course, I knew nothing of it at the time. Well, our battery
came down the road and fired a blank cartridge as a warning for our men to clear
the road, and we gave way to the right and left and fell back while the guns sent
the grape and canister into the rebs. As tiie enemy came up we gave them all the

* In answer to a letter from the historian, recounting the incident as hero
given and asking if they wore in accordance with his recollections of the affair.
Colonel Treichel answered from the Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica, Cal., of
which he is governor, under date of April 9, 1890, as follows :

My dear Captaix : I have delayed answering your letter because it seemed to
me I ought to be able to think of something to add to your vivid description of
that gallant little affair at Ground Squirrel Bridge, if only as an evidence that I
happened along there at about that time and saw you sail in with that handful of
brave fellows ; but it is no use : you have brought it all back as if it had happened
only yesterday. But you have left nothing for me to suggest.

1864 CLOSE UPON THE CONFEDERATE CAPITOL. I79

I«m1 we could from our carbines and revolvers. It was about this time that a
charge was made and came up to where we were. I didn't notice who led it, but
we rvtinxl with them. Sergeant Brown, of Company L, was knocked from his
horse, and cau^'ht the tail of a passing horse and was dragged out of the mtlee.
St'fgeant L. P. Norton, of the same company, received a severe saber-cut on the
l»ack of the head. The horse of Henry Bodfish, of Company A, was shot, and
lkMlfi»h delilKTutely commenced taking off the saddle and bridle under fire. He
waa told to g»;t out quick (with the usual emphasis in such cases), which he did.

Lieutenant Preston was slightly wounded in the charge which he
le<L Joe McCreary, of Company H, was taken prisoner, and his
comrades believed it was he who told his captors the Munchausen
storiea of tlie vast numbers that were approaching their capital, an
account of which was published in the Kichmond papers the next
duy. It was good fighting all around on the 11th. While Gregg's
briguile was contending with Gordon's force at Ground Squirrel
Bridge, the First brigade, under General Davies, was having a like
interesting time at Ashland, where it had gone early in the morning;
and Custer's brigade, of the First division, was doing a smashing
business at Yellow Tavern, nearer Richmond. Here General Stuart
met his death, while rallying his men in a final stand against the im-
petuous Custer. The first information received in the Tenth of the
wounding of General Stuart was from an old negro woman, Avho in-
fornuni Sergeant Joyner, of Company A, that " General Stuart had
been shot f rew de bowels " that evening. This, if true, meant that he
wjia mortally wounded, which was found to he the case next day, he
having dit-d in Richmond, whither he was conveyed in an ambulance.

General Stuart, by his knightly valor, his intrepid dash, and bold
mlventures, had won and maintained the respect of the Union cavalry-
men as no other Confederate cavalry leader had. Various accounts
aa to how this gallant salreur met his death have been given. The
particular manner in which he received his death-wound is not of so
niuch consequence ; it was the lofty spirit of heroism which found
him valiantly defending the passage to the Confederate capital, even
to the sjicrificing of his own life in the personal endeavor to stay the
victorious march of our cavalry that challenged the admiration of all.

Major McClellan, of his staff, who would be quite as likely to
know the truth of the circumstances of General Stuart's death as any
one, says that about eighty men had collected on the Telegraph Road,
where Captain Dorsey, of the First Virginia Cavalry, had been stationed,
and " among tliese tlie General threw himself, and by his personal
example held them steady, while the enemy charged entirely past

180 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1804

their position. With these men he fired into their flank and rear as
they passed him, in advancing aud retreating, for they were met by a
mounted charge of the First Virginia Cavah-y and driven bacJv some
distance. As they retired, one man, who had been dismounted in tlie
charge, and was running out on foot, turned as he passed the General,
and, discharging his pistol, inflicted tlie fatal wound." *

The dying chief was removed in an ambulance to Richmond, being
compelled to go by a circuitous route, as our cavah-y were in possession
of the Brooke road between him and the city. After reaching the
city Major McClellan paid a hurried visit to his bedside. The spirit
of chivalry, always prominent, was manifested in the dying moments
of the General, in the following messages, which he delivered to liis
devoted aide, f

" You will find in my hat a small Confederate flag, which a lady
of Columbia, South Carolina, sent me, with a request that I would
wear it upon my horse in a battle and return it to her. Send it to
her."

And also : '

" My spurs which I have always worn in battle I promised to give
to Mrs. Lilly Lee, of Shepherdstown, Virginia. My sword I leave to
my son."

Stuart's loss was greatly mourned by General Lee, who prized liim liiglily,
both as a skillful soldier of splendid courage and energy, and a hearty, joyous,
loving friend.:^

The force with which Gregg's brigade had fought in the morning
was Gordon's brigade, of Pitzhugh Lee's division, numbering about
four thousand men. The commander of the brigade, General James
B. Gordon, was killed in this fight.

After the establishment of a line in rear, Gregg's brigade resumed
the march toward Richmond in clouds of dust. It was oppressively
warm, and before reaching the railroad at Glen Allen a thunder-
storm came up. The destruction of the railroad was commenced late
in the afternoon, and while engaged in this work Gordon's brigade
again assumed the offensive and the Tenth retired to a ridge south of
the railroad. On another ridge back of the one occupied by the Regi-
ment the battery w^ent into position, with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania

* The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 413.
t Ibid., p. 416.

X Lieutenant - Colonel C. S. Venable, of General Lee's staff, in Battles and
Leaders of the Civil War, vol. iv, p. 243.

< »^V,Mj H.

Company D.

. Company F.

CAPT. TnO-S. \V. JOM N^ON ,

Company M.

liatialion Adjutant.

Adjutant.

A GROUP OF FIELD, STAFF AND LINE OFFICERS.

INW CLOSE UPON THE CONFEDERATE CAPITOL. 181

w support, the balance of the brigade being disposed on either flank.
While in this position darkness and rain settled down upon the troops.
Vivid flii^shes of lightning lit up the gloom, while peals of thunder
rolled uway in the distance, to be lost in fresh reverberations near by,
each one Ri'ining to increase the fall of rain. Mingled with all this
wiia the continued crack of the carbine, for we were too near the rebel
capital to iK-rniit its defenders to remain passive. Along the ridge the
bovH luy with their rubber blankets drawn about them, banging away
at the enemy as the lightning's flash would reveal their position. The
hori^'a were in charge of the mounted portion of the Eegiment in a
slight depression between the two ridges. Word was passed along the
lino near midnight that Custer had met and vanquished the enemy
in front, and the cheers that followed the announcement were taken
up by other regiments of the brigade on either flank, and, united
with the firing of the carbines and the deep-toned thunder, made
an inipre.-vsion on the mind that was not readily effaced. The cheer-
ing*, no doubt, conveyed impressions to the Confederates that the
YanktH^s were meeting with success in front, and hence the necessity
of their creating a diversion. For a time the firing was quite rapid
fJung the line ; but finally it languished, the storm abated, the clouds
rollol by, and the line was quietly withdrawn, ajid the march toward
tlio city resumed. A part of the Tenth was moved dismounted until
the lJroi>ke turnpike was reached, to be in readiness to repel any
charge whicli might be made.

The morning of Thursday, the 12th of May, was all that Nature
in lier most generous mood could bestow.^ The rain had opened the
curlin:? haves, the fields were resplendent with luxuriant grass, and
bfiiutiful gardens by the roadside gave forth a fragrance that was
refreshing to the tired and exhausted men of Sheridan's cavalry, who
were pressing forward to seize the prize for which the armies had
contended so long— the capital of the Confederacy.

The march over the broad and beautiful Brooke road was more
like moving out for review than what it proved to be— a day of hard
and at times seemingly hopeless fighting. Passing within a line of
earthworks tliat constituted Eichmond's outer defenses, a few mounted
and dismounted rebel troops appeared on the ridge which hid the
city from view. Xcar a small church the column forsook the main
road, making a sharp turn to the left, and passed through the wood
over a narrow road. A half-mile brought Sheridan's entire force into
the open, where a halt of some time was made. Presently there was
rapid tiring in front : the Second Division was attacked in rear ; while

1S2 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

the Third Division, occupying the center, was fiercely assailed in
flank. Soon after the dismounted line had been sent into the woods
on the right — after facing to the rear— the enemy brought a bat-
tery from the woods through which the division had just passed and
opened fire; but they found Lieutenant King prepared for them
with his battery in position. The Tenth was ordered up to the guns
as support. One battalion was on the dismounted line in the wood ;
the other two battalions sat their horses for moments that seemed
like hours, the shot and shell from the rebel guns playing havoc in
the ranks. Never did men exhibit more patience or nerve. One of
the most trying positions in which troops can be placed — one that
demonstrates their steadfastness and reliability — is inaction while un-
der an enemy's fire. This was grandly illustrated by the Regiment
here. Although shot and shell from the enemy's battery went crash-
ing through its ranks or plowed the ground beneatli the horses' feet,
shells burst over and around it in a terrorizing manner, not the least
disposition to unsteadiness was manifested. Solid shot striking the
ground in front of the Regiment would ricochet over the heads of the
men, causing the horses to fairly squat — to use an expressive term —
and with extended nostrils tremblingly crowd together awaiting the
next visitation.

A solid shot shattered a fore-leg of Sergeant Binkley's horse close
to the body, and the poor beast continued to move the shoulder to
which the leg dangled in the endeavor to place the foot. One of the
artillerymen was holding four horses belonging to the battery when a
shot passed through them all.

Twice did Lieutenant King silence the rebel guns, when the men
pluckily returned to tlie place with other pieces. Finally, after ex-
changing a section of his rifled pieces with Captain Martin for a section
of Napoleons, he put the rebel battery to sleep for good. In the mean
time. Grade's and Bartlett's brigades of infantry had been brought
from the city and united with their cavalry against the Second Divis-
ion. Not an inch of ground was yielded on Gregg's line. The rapid
discharge of the seven-shooters in tlie woods to the right gave evidence
of hot work there, while the booming of cannon on every side and the
ceaseless rattle of small-arms told plainly the desperate nature of the
conflict. It was indeed a gloomy outlook ; hemmed in on all sides —
an impassable stream in front, a heavy line of earthworks on our
right, and a force of cavalry and infantry superior in numbers but not
in valor to our own on tlie left flank and rear. None of the troops
under Slieridan's command that day behaved better than the Second

18C-I INSIDE THE FORTIFICATIONS AT RICHMOND. 183

Division. Their steadiness and gallantry were largely due to the
assurance and confident bearing*of their commander, whose presence
at diilerent points along the line was productive of good cheer and a
firm determination to succeed.

As the gaUant men yielded up their lives on the line, their forms
were taken back to the open space some distance to the right of the
buttery and interred with much care, the graves being made on a line,
with ruilc head-boards put up to each. About 3 P. M. the dismounted
line repulsed the last attempt made by the rebels to force the posi-
tion, and Merritt's men having repaired the bridge over the Chicka-
liominy and drawn off the force on the opposite side, the begrimed
and tired troopers retired and, mounting tlieir horses, followed the
Fii*st and Third Divisions across the Chickahominy at Meadow
l$ri«I;;e. The citizens of Richmond and the government officials
were no doubt much alarmed by Sheridan's near approach, notwith-
standing there were about four thousand troops inside the works in
addition to those actively engaged with the Union cavalry outside.
The Kichmond Enquirer of that date said :

It is unknown how long the enemy may be around the city, or at what part
Ihey WAY attempt to enter. Their cavalry, yesterday defeated by Stuart, may to-
day rujly, mid re-enforced, turn the tide of victory, aud seek to gallop into the
city, ttiid through it to their army at Bermuda Hundred.

Upon reaching the north side of the river it commenced raining.
The Tenth was assigned to picket duty, a most unwelcome order, for
the men were worn out and hungry. Bui; the line was established in
the gl(K)m and rain two or three miles north of Mechanicsville.

ifoving out at 8 A. M., on the 13th, the Tenth became the rear-
guard of the entire command. About noon it passed the other troops
of the corps and resumed its place with the Second Brigade, and en-
camiK'd near Bottom Bridge at 5 p. m.

Cump was broken at 7.30 A. m., on the 14th, and the line of march
tiikeu up aicain for the James River; Haxall's Landing was reached
ut 4 r. 51., and the entire command went into camp on the hills back
from the river. AVhen passing over Malvern Hill the officers on the
gunlK>als mistook the column for rebels, and sent some shells of im-
nit-nse size at it. The signal officers attempted communication, but
the tars evidently did not understand the code, for they turned their
guns on the station and caused them to vacate their position. The
signals had been seen, however, by General Butler's officers, and word
was sent the enterprising naval commander to cease firing. Then the

184 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

begrimed and battered knights went into camp near the river, laun-
dried their long-neglected bodiefs, drew full-weight rations and forage,
and made general preparations for a resumption of hostilities at an
early day.

While here on the ICth, some of the men of the Regiment who
were serving in Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery, including
Robert Trotter and Eli Baird, were transferred to Battery M, Second
United States Artillery. Several recruits and officers for the Regi-
ment arrived at Fredericksburg this day, including the newly ap-
pointed chaplain, Rev. Joseph Bradley. These remained with the
wagon-train until tlie cavalry returned to the army.

The Tenth was transferred to the First Brigade, General Davies's,
on the 17th of May, and about 11 p. m. the entire command was put
in motion on the return march to the army. Crossing the Chicka-
hominy at Jones's Bridge early on the morning of the 18th, a halt
was made, the horses groomed, fed, and watered, and breakfast pre-
pared and eaten. Then on again to Baltimore Cross-roads, which
was reached at 6 p. M., when it commenced raining. The 19th was
devoted to foraging. AVhilc here, Lieutenant Preston, taking his or-
derly, Kelly, and Elias Evans, of Company D, went out in the direc-
tion of Richmond, for forage and fun. On emerging from the
woods, when some three or four miles from camp, a log-house near
the center of the opening came into view. After a few moments,
Kelly exclaimed, " There's somebody running from that house. Lieu-
tenant ! "

Sure enough, keeping in the line of the house, two men were
going witli all possible speed for the opposite woods. Putting spurs
to their horses the trio overhauled them just before reaching their
goal — the fence running along the edge of the woods. They proved
to be Confederate soldiers visiting home on a short furlough. The
only weapons they possessed, small revolvers and pocket-knives, were
taken from them and the return march to camp was begun. In
passing the house one of the prisoners asked to be permitted to go
inside and get his overcoat. Kelly was instructed to get it for him,
which he did. Something which the little orderly saw while in the
house excited his suspicions, but he said nothing for some time.
Finally, after about a mile had been traversed, he asked for permis-
sion to return to the house. His request was reluctantly granted,
with admonitions to kco]) a sharp lookout against surprise and capt-
ure. He came into camj) in the early evening, with eighteen hun-
dred dollars in Confederate money. When he entered the house to

18(U POOR EGGS FOR GOOD MONEY. 185

obtain tho overcoat, he said his suspicions were aroused by the un-
easy manner in which an aged lady kept changing her position in a
largo arm-chair. He felt that she was "brooding" something for
protection, and liis suspicions were verified when he returned and
found tho money beneath the chair cushion. Kelly gave Lieutenant
Preston five hundred dollars of the worthless stuff. A few days after-
ward the Lieutenant concluded a contract with an old colored woman
near aimp, whereby she was to furnish one dozen good, merchantable
eg<;s for fifteen dollars. A rigid inspection of the nests failed to
reveal but eleven eggs, some of which were overripe ; but the Lieu-
tenant waived a strict compliance with the terms of the contract on
the woman's part, and, as the eleven eggs were produced, he tendered
three of tho five-dollar Confederate bills in payment.

The ebonized countenance of the female egg merchant assumed a
disapjK)inted and disgusted look as her eyes fell upon the evidently
familiar face of Jell Davis on the bills.

In a disdainful manner she withdrew her hands behind her, and
delivered herself of the following insult to the financial integrity of
the Southern Confederacy : " I don' wan' dat stuff ! I want you'ns
money."

Fifteen dollars in"you'ns money "for eleven eggs in nearly as
bad a state of decay as the Confederacy itself was more than the Lieu-
tenant was prepared to pay, and the trade and eggs were both de-
clarer! oil.

The uncertainty as to the location of the Army of the Potomac
at this time caused General Sheridan some uneasiness. Custer's
bri;:iuie w;i3 sent to Hanover Court-House, while the balance of the
corps went on a reconnaissance to Cold Harbor. Breaking camp at
5 A. M. on the 20th, the Second Division, with the Second Brigade
leading and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania in advance, moved to Cold
HarlMjr, where it arrived at 2 p. M., driving a small force of the
eneniy and posting pickets beyond Gaines's Mills. Eations and for-
ai:e were becoming very scarce, and foraging parties were sent out
on the 21st These met with but indifferent success and a few rebels.
A party under Commissary Preston went in the direction of Rich-
mond and secured an abundant supply of flour, sugar, tea, coffee,
sweet poUitoes, etc., from the residence of one of the F. F's. and
^"^raj^d with the plunder, reaching camp early in the morning on the
2<1, most of the men walking, the horses being loaded down with
tribute.

Captain Paige, who had been reinstated in the Rcdment, arrived at

18C HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C4

the cavalry wagon -trains near Fredericksburg with a thousand recruits
for various regiments, about no9n, on this date.

Marching at daybreak on tlie 22d, the Tenth, first in order of
march, arrived at White House about noon. Gunboats and trans-
ports had come up from Fortress Monroe, bringing rations and for-
age. The First Division, under General Merritt, had rebuilt the
bridge over the Pamunkey, and were already crossing when the Sec-
ond Division arrived.

The Tenth crossed at sunrise on the 23d, and with the rest of the
command marclied to King William Court-IIouse, where it arrived at
1 p. M. ; thence to Aylettsville, wliei'e the corps went into camp four
hours later. From there the Tenth was sent to picket the Han-
over road. "While posting pickets the men were fired on by the pick-
ets of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry by mistake, but no harm re-
sulted.

Marching at 8 A. 3i., on the 24th, the Eegiment bivouacked near
"White Chimneys at 5 p. m., making a hot, dusty march of about fif-
teen miles. After going into camp a heavy thunder-shower came up.
The rain fell in torrents, and the angry bursts of lightning carried
terror to many brave hearts. Corporal Bolles and private Ireland,
of Company K, serving in the Pioneer Corps, were both struck, the
former being instantly killed. Several men and horses were pros-
trated. D. T. Fields and Stej)heii Smith were driving tent-stakes, and
both were thrown to the ground by a shock. Jumping to his feet.
Smith staggered about and exclaimed in a bewildered way, " Where
did that shell come from?" One of the. bolts twisted a saber, that
was leaning against a tree, into the symbolic pruning-hook. The
heavy cannonading and musketry-fire in front during the day indi-
cated hard fighting between the two armies.

After the heavy rainfall of tlie night before, the sun rose bright
and warm on the 25th. At 6 A. m. the Regiment led out, and at
1.30 p. M. passed tl\rough Chesterfield Station, and a half-hour later
came up with the infantry, and were greeted by " The boys we left
behind us," besides some of tlie new acquisitions, among the latter
being Chaplain Bradley, who wore a sedate expression and a pair of
knee-boots as he approached Major Avery and introduced himself.
His manner and appearance created a favorable impression on the
men, which increased with closer acquaintance. Here Captain
Paige reported with forty recruits An immense mail was in waiting
for the boys, which was at once distributed to their great satisfac-
tion The trains came up, but remained but a short time, Quarter-

SERGEANT W. W. CAMERON.

^'M^--^

MAJOR JOHN M. KEMPER.

CAPTAIN HERBERT E. FARNSWORTH.

18C4

A WORN OUT COMMAND.

187

master Grjives having received orders to proceed to Port Royal with
his wagons, on tlie 2Gth, to bring up supplies.

The raid, replete with incident and excitement, had been severe
on the horses and men. But the Yankee cavalry had maintained its
supremacy over the Southern horsemen, even when aided by infantry,
as was tlie case in the works of Richmond on the 12th of May. That
more property was not destroyed was the fault of the Confederacy in
not providing it. We destroyed all we found, and, like Alexander,
** sighed for more."

Around the Camp-Fires.

188 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGi:\IENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

CHAPTER IX.

SUMMER CAMPAIGN, 18G4 — FROM HAWES's SHOP TO CROSSING JAMES

RIVER.

N" the return to the Army of the Potomac the cav-
alrymen naturally looked for a short respite, for
the purpose of recuperation and reorganization ;
but the vigor with which General Grant was con-
0~ ducting the war did not permit much time to go
to waste. He was going to " fight it out on this
line if it took all summer," and all the horses in
the army to do it. And the cavalrymen gave a
" ""^ '. " * hearty amen to the sentiment, as they gave hearty
support to the man. "Boots and saddles ".at 11 A. m., on Thurs-
day, May 26th, gave notice that the services of the cavalry were
wanted in front. Marching back on nearly the same route on
which they had advanced from White House, the tramp was con-
tinued in a drizzling rain until 9 p. m., when a short halt was
made ; then on, on, through the long, weary night, until the Pamun-
key w^as crossed at Hanover at sunrise on the 28th.

Going into bivouac in the open field on the south side, the men
cooked breakfasts and fed and watered the animals. At 8 A. m. the
Tenth, with Gregg's division, moved out on the Richmond road.
Rations had been issued for four hundred and forty men prior to
leaving Chesterfield Station, but the issue included dismounted and
train men, sick, etc., so that the probable strength of the Regiment
at this time did not exceed three hundred and eighty men present for
duty. At ten o'clock the Regiment halted at Ilawes's shop, and
formed on the right of the road. In its front was a large white
house surrounded by trees, under which General Davies established
temporary headquarters. Captain Blynn, who had been sent for-
ward with his squadron on a reconnaissance, had halted and sent
Lieutenant T. C. White, about half a mile farther on, with Com-
pany D. White passed beyond the woods with his detachment, and

1864 NO REST AFTER THE RICHMOND RAID. 189

Sergeant Edson had barely posted pickets, when they were driven in
and tlie reserve was viciously attacked by a large force of mounted
and dismounted Confederate cavalry. White formed his few men
across the road and gave them a warm reception, checking their ad-
vance by WflUdirected and rapid volleys; but the largely superior
numbers were too much for continued resistance, and White fell back,
closely followed by the mounted force. The stroke of lightning
which killed Corporal Bolles, of the Pioneer Corps, on the .J24th, de-
prived his horse of its eyesight. This horse was being ridden by
VV^irren Iri<h in the race for liberty which Blynn's squadron were
making on this occasion. The horse becoming wedged in between a
tree and the fence, Irish was forced to take to the fields to escape
capture, lie made good time, however, and reached the reserve, after
passing through a storm of bullets, though pretty badly winded. As
the little squad came flying up the road, closely pursued by a force
which filled the road and extended a considerable distance back, the
First Pennsylvania, with Colonel Taylor at its head, arrived in front
of General Pavies's headquarters. The rebel yell found an echo in
Colonel Taylor's prompt command to "draw saber!" followed by
tlio " charge I '* The rebels suddenly found themselves in a dilemma.
Hemmed in on either side by a high rail fence and pressed from the
rear by their own comrades, they were mercilessly sabered by the Penn-
sylvania boys. The First Pennsylvania never wielded the saber with
better effect. The Confederates finally extricated themselves, and,
falling back, their dismounted troopers began a rapid fire from the
woods. The brigade was ordered forward,.the Tenth taking position,
mounted, at the edge of the wood, the left resting on the road, near
a little church. The battery had taken position a few rods in rear of
the Regiment, and were dispensing shot and shell in generous quanti-
ties, fi.-ing over the Regiment into the woods. A little lull in the
action soon after the arrival of the Regiment was followed by a most
terrific outburst from the Confederate line, denoting heavy re-enforce-
ments, (icneral Davies, who chanced to be near the Tenth at the
moment, diroctetl Major Avery to dismount the Regiment and move
it into the woods immediately, and connect with the Fourth Pennsyl-
vania on the right and the First Pennsylvania on the left. This was
done in perfect order, although it was extremely hot, with no chance
of replying until tlie line was formed in the wood. Xo sooner had
the Tenth taken position, as directed, than they encountered and re-
turned a most galling fire. It was clearly an unequal contest, so far
as numbers were concerned, but never did the Regiment display better

190 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

staying qualities or exhibit more gallantry than on this occasion.
AYhile repeated attempts to drive the enemy from their position
proved futile, the determined resistance offered rendered the efforts
of the enemy to do the same thing with our line ineffectual. As the
fight progressed tlie Confederates appeared to throw in fresh troops,
but none came to our assistance. It was the hardest fight the Regi-
ment was ever engaged in. An aide from General Gregg came to the
line, urging an advance. It was only necessary for the men to know
tiiat it was General Gregg's desire that the line should be advanced,
for them to attempt it. But that was all they could do, and that they
did do with great determination and spirit on several occasions. But
it was of no avail. Against such a fire as was brought against them
it was impossible to move forward. Much of the ground occupied by
the Regiment was covered with underbrush, while in its front between
the two lines was a ravine, across which the murderous missiles flew so
thick and fast that it did not appear possible for any one to survive.
Unceasingly the desperate conflict continued until about 4 p. M.,
when a cheer was heard away to the right. Yes, it was a cheer; a
real Yankee cheer ! Then the line in our front began to give way ;
and the cheer w\is re-echoed as the Tenth went forward, down
through the ravine and up the opposite hillside, in close pursuit of
the fleeing rebels. Over the open beyond, and clear up to the wood
on the opposite side, the pursuit was continued. The ground was
strewn with the enemy's dead, but their wounded had been removed.
The line was recalled, and then it was learned that Custer had
charged on our right with his brigade, dismounted, and turned the
enemy's left, and our brigade pressing forward at the same time, the
entire Confederate line gave way. The Union victory was complete.
It was fairly earned by superior endurance, bravery, and determination.
The battle of Ilawcs's shop has been very properly recorded as the
hardest cavalry fight of the war. There was at no time during the
engagement the slightest evidence of weakness or disposition to
yield an inch of ground on the Union side. The losses in the
Tenth were heavy, tlie number of killed being nearly double that
of any other regiment engaged, while the number of wounded was
exceeded only by the First New Jersey and Sixteenth Pennsyl-
vania.

The Confederate force greatly outnumbered the Union troops in
this engagement. General Humphreys says : *

* CampaijjTis of the Ch il War, vol. xii, p. 1G4.

18W ACCOUNT BY THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER. 191

On the morning of the 2Sth General Sheridan was directed to make a demon-
stration on the road from Hanover ToNyn to Richmond to ascertain where the
enemy was posted, and about a mile beyond Hawes's shop Gregg's division en-
countered the enemy's cavalry dismounted and occupying temporary breastworks
of rails. This force, General Sheridan says, appeared to be the Confederate Cav-
alry Corps and a brigade of South Carolina troops armed with long-range rifles,
reported to he four thousand strong and commanded by Colonel Butler.*

But I learn from Fitzhugh Lee that the Confederate cavalry force there on
the 2Sth consisted of his own division, of two brigades, Hampton's division, of two
brigaile?*, and a brigade under command of Colonel (afterward General) Butler,
which had recently arrived from South Carolina. Fitzhugh Lee was on the
right of their line, Hampton on the left.

A lofig, hard contest ensued and continued until late in the evening, when
Custer's bripule (of Torbert's division) and Gregg's division carried the intrench-
mentti and drove back the enemy.

The Kichmond Enquirer of May 30tli had the following :

Aemy of Northeen Virginia,

May 29, 1864.
About twelve o'clock yesterday a severe cavalry fight occurred near Hawes's
»hop U'tween detachments of several brigades of Fitzhugh Lee and Hampton's
divi>ions and a corps of Yankee cavalry, supported by a large body of infantry,
estimatt-il at two corps. The enemy were guarding the road leading from that
p«.>int to the Peninsula, Their cavalry were dismounted during the fight and com-
mcneed tiring on us at a distance. Both parties advanced,' and the enemy repeat-
edly th.-irjrLtl our line and were handsomely repulsed in every effort. Their center
was drivon in or fell back, and, being in imminent danger of being surrounded on
both flHnk-s by the largely superior and combined forces of both cavalry and in-
fantry, we were compelled to retire a short distance to avoid it, the enemy's artil-
lery playing on our ranks continually. The musketry-fire was very heavy and as
incessant for a time as the volleys between infantry in regular line of battle. The
loss on both >iiles was heavy and a few prisoners were taken, but it is impossible
now to give even an approximate estimate of our own or that of the enemy.
Among the casualties were Colonel Millen, of Georgia, killed, and Colonel Dun-
novant, of South Carolina, wounded by a pistol-shot through the left hand. Most
of our iorvs is attributed to the fact that nearly all the force engaged on our
part were new men, whose only idea was to go in and fight, which they did do
most gnll:uitly and creditably. The fight continued at intervals until nearly 5
P. M. without decisive result save the ascertaining of the enemy's position and
strength of that part of his line.

^fajor Avery's wish, frequently expressed, that he might receive a
slight wound, came near being gratified in the early part of this en-
gagement. A bullet penetrated the right stirrup, opposite the side of
his foot, and was deflected, passing tlirough the bottom of the stir-

» Colonel Butler lost his right leg at Brandy Station, June 9, 18G3.

192 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

rup, directly beneath the hollow of his foot, without touching the
boot. «

Surgeon Clarke says of the Hawes's shop engagement :

Hawes's shop was one of the most fiercely contested battles of the war. The
wounds of all that came under my observation were very severe.^ While 1 was
engaged in amputating the leg of Sergeant Reynolds, of our regiment, in a log-
house, a shell from the enemy's battery knocked the chimney off the house, an-
other took off the leg of an officer standing in front of the building, and still
another entered the open door of the house, struck a beam overhead, and rolled
down under the operating table. Every face present was ghastly white, expect-
ing the shell would explode, but no one deserted his post. To the fact that the
fuse had gone out may be attributed my recording the incident.

Of the Hawes's shop fight General Gregg says :

In the shortest possible time both of my brigades were hotly engaged. Every
available man was put into the fight, which had lasted some hours. Neither
party would yield an inch. Through a staff-oflicer of General Shei'idan I sent
him word as to how we stood, and stated that with some additional force I could
destroy the equilibrium and go forward. Soon General Custer reported with his
brigade. This he dismounted and formed on a road leading to the front and
through the center of my line. In columns of platoons, with band playing, he
advanced. As arranged, when the head of his colunm reached my line, all went
forward with a tremendous yell, and the contest was of short duration. We went
right over the rebels, who resisted with courage and desperation unsurpassed.
Our success cost the Second Division two hundred and fifty-six men and officers,
killed and wounded. This fight has always been regarded by the Second Division
as one of its severest.

The bias of commanders of troops during these eventful days is
illustrated by General Lee's report of the Hawes's shop engagement,
made at 6 r. 3i. on the day of the fight, in which he says :

General Fitzhugh Lee's division of cavalry engaged the enemy's cavaliy near
Hawes's shop about noon to-day and drove them back upon their infantry, etc.

Probably no one would doubt General Lee's sincerity or question
his statement of facts, and yet every trooper in Gregg's division
knows that not one foot of ground was yielded by them at Hawes's
shop, but that, on the contrary, the Confederate cavalry was driven
pell-mell for a considerable distance.

After driving tlie Confederates, as related, the line was recalled to
Hawes's shop, where the advance of the army was found.

The Regiment remained in camp near the river on the 29th, and
on the 30th moved to Old Cliurch Tavern, and commenced skirmish-
ing on the road leading to Cold Harbor. Toward evening the skir-

CAPTAIN LUTHER L. BARNEY,
Co. C.

1SG4 FIGHTING AT COLD HARBOR. 193

niisliinir became very brisk. The command bivouacked near Old
Church Tavern at 8 P. M.

'J' he march was taken up again on the Cold Harbor road at 6
V. yi. on the 31st, and after some standing to horse, and mounting
and dismounting, tlie boys finally planted a few rheumatic seeds by
courting a little sleep on the damp ground.

Up and moving again at daylight on the 1st of June, the Regi-
ment commenced skirmishing. The Confederates were driven to
CoM Harbor, the lighting at 9 A. M. being severe. General Sheri-
dan (lisniounted in rear of the position held by the Tenth, and walk-
ing' along the line, encouraged the men to hold the place for a few
minute?, Siiying the infantry was close by and would soon relieve
ihciu. This was thought to be a dernier ressort to maintain the line.
15 ut a half-liour later, sure enough, there appeared over the brow of
tlu- }]ill the stanihirds of the advancing army that was to contend for
ti.e i*",>.-*\^ion of this apparently worthless place in one of the blood-
iest Ixittles of the war. The dismounted troopers of the Cavalry
Corj>.s di<l excellent service here in holding the rebel infantry until
tlie army came up. General Meade had sent word to General Sheri-
d:t!i U} hold the place at all hazards, and he held it, the Tenth con-
trilrutmg m full share in the necessary fighting.'

General Humphreys says: *

On the inonuMj: of the 1st of June Hoke did not b3come engaged, but took
I>c»5liioii <»n iho ri:;lit. Kershaw, however, attacked Sheridan with two of his
bri-^-cuU J*, otic of x\w\n his own, but was repulsed l^y the fire of repeating carbines
and oriiilfry. He rept'iitod the attack, with the same result, Colonel Keitt's
roj^iiui.'iit, the Tvv»'nti(th Soutli Carolina,f giving way, and Colonel Keitt himself
WiU'^ rsuTrtdlly Wi.uiuh'd in the effort to rally it. The attack was not renewed,
u!id ui is:jic o'clot k General Wright arrived, the head of his column near at hand.
A^ v,H,n a-? it wns up, the cavjdry were relieved, and moved toward the Chicka-
hujiiJuy, C'vering the left of the army.

'i lio ihuicing baiuiers of the Sixth Corps were seen by the boys
ovt. T tiu* hill-tojK, before the infantry appeared in view, and the cheers
that fi>li(>w*-<i n\{\<x have convinced the Confederate infantry that re-en-
f..rv'ei!i* nt.s luid arrived for the Yankees. The fire slackened and the
infantry movt-d down and took the position held by the dismounted
caviilryinen, who at about 2 P. M., mounted and moved to the left,
ni5d i^iu huur* later a part of the Tenth was sent still farther to the

* (^nmpMiirn?. of iho Civil War, vol. xii, p. 173.

\ 'V\\\< js cAlUd n Mir re-iment in the Oflicial Diary, First (Confederate) Corps.
It ^k;v^ a} I .irvntly a n<>\^ly raist.>d regiment.

194 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

left on picket, while the Pioneer Corps was sent out on the road lead-
ing to Summer's Upper Bridge' to fell trees and barricade the road.
This duty kept the pioneers at work till next morning, when, just as
they were about to return to camp, they received orders to clear tlie
barricade away as soon as possible, to permit the cayalry to pass. The
cannonading and musketry at Cold Harbor continued during the
night, and increased with the approaching light of the 2d. At 9
A. 31. the Tenth moved out with the brigade to Summer's Upper
Bridge (or Barker's Mills). The clouds of dust which arose gave
notice to the enemy on the opposite side of the wood of the move-
ment, and the batteries in their works rained shot and shell into the
open field through which the column was marching. The Eegiment
was brought into company fronts, and a skirmish-line advanced
through the swamp, the men being compelled to jump from bog to
log, and, sometimes missing their footing, went floundering into the
mire, which would call for the use of a little imported language,
kept in stock for such occasions. Eeaching the opposite shore, a
sandy field with the Confederate breastworks on the higher ground,
a little further advanced, was in front of the skirmishers. After
exchanging a few shots the Confederate skirmishers fell back be-
hind the works, and our line was ordered to rejoin the Regiment,
which remained in the field before mentioned, where they had been
subjected to a brisk artillery- fire, the solid shot, shells, etc., plunging
into the sand all around and in tlie very midst of the Eegiment, throw-
ing sand in showers over the boys. About 5 p. m. the infantry took
the place of the cavalry, and the latter -moved to Bottom's Bridge,
the Tenth going into camp about a mile from the bridge, on the liill.
On the afternoon of the 4th the Confederates shelled the camp of the
First Brigade from the opposite side of the Chickahominy, distant
about three miles. The Whitwonh bolts tumbled around among the
men and horses rather carelessly, but did no harm. This diversion was
repeated on the Gth, with the same result.

The pickets of tlie Tenth were called in, and at 11 a. m. of the same
day the entire command marched to Xewcastle, where the Pamunkey
was crossed at 5 p. yi., and the command bivouacked. Torbert's and
Gregg's divisions were present, AVilson's having taken Gregg's place in
picketing along the Chickahominy. Tlie march was resumed on tlie
7th, and at 2.30 p. m., the Tenth encamped two miles west of Aylett's.
An early start was made on the 8th. It was warm and dusty, and tlie
march was already beginning to tell on the horses. During the day
Lieutenant-Colonel Sceva was sent with a detachment from the Tenth

1864 THE TREVILLIAN RAID. 195

to capture a Confederate mail, which was reported moving on a parallel
roiid. There was a small escort With the mail, which Sceva promptly
charged, losing his hat in the meUe. The mail escaped, and Colonel
Sceva returned to the Regiment, after foraging a little to get a hat.
llo finally secured an ancient specimen of a tall silk hat, which he
donned as a protection from the sun's rays. In hastening after the
Regiment with his little command, he passed General Davies, who
seemed disgusted with his appearance. Sceva was surprised and mor-
tified a little later at being placed in arrest for breach of discipline.
lie had never thought of the ridiculous appearance he made under the
ehade of the ancient head-gear. An explanation and apology from
him were followed by release from arrest. The Tenth was sent on
picket in the evening of this day.

General Sheridan evidently intended to get as much of the march-
ing in the cool of the day as possible. The Regiment was on the
move at 5 A. M. and encamped at 4 p. 3r., passing through Childs-
burg in the forenoon. The morning of the 10th was cool and pleas-
ant. The march was continued at 8 A. 31., and at 3 p. m. crossed the
North Anna at Carpenter's Ford. Soon after reaching the south side
of the river a halt was made, and Lieutenant Preston was directed to
take a detachment and go into the country in. search of food, with
instructions to join the Regiment some miles in advance, where they
were expected to go into camp. With about twenty men the Lieutenant
etarted out upon the left flank and, after a march of two or three
miles, an old colored man was met, from whom it was learned that
there Wiis a store two or three miles farther on, with plenty of bacon
and grain. After proceeding a short distance farther a halt was
made at a house by the roadside, and a full-blooded man was found,
whether Anglo-Saxon or African could have been ' determined only
by a vigorous application of soap and water. He claimed to be a
L^nion man — he was no doubt a " Free-Soiler." An old rifle was
found in liis mansion, which he said he kept for use in defending
himself from the conscription officers. One of the men struck the
barrel over a rock, after which it looked well suited for shooting
curved bulls. After a march of about a mile from this house the
store was found. It contained a fair aggregation of almost every-
thing not needed by the men, such as old faded calicoes, a few shop-
worn sliocs too large or too small for ordinary people, hoop-skirts,
beeswax, and shirt-buttons, etc. Some of the calicoes were distrib-
uted with a generous hand to the women along the route after leav-
ing. King Richard would never have olTered a warranty deed of his

196 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

kingdom for a horse had he been confronted with the quadruped of
questionable genus which one of 'the men brought forth and called a
horse at this place. It was too dilapidated an equine for even a
Yankee forager to insist on trying to get away with, and that was
proof that it was a pretty bad case.

Just as the shades of evening and the indignant protestations of
the woman shopkeeper were falling, the return march was taken up.
It was a little after dark when the command passed the abode of the
" Union man " whose rifle had been given a " curved line of beauty "
by one of the men. He had evidently got some more Union men to
assist him in celebrating the return of the Yankee soldiers in a be-
coming manner. They fired a volley into the rear of the column
from the wood by the roadside, wounding Sergeant Miller, of Com-
pany L. In the darkness which followed the road was lost, and the
detachment marched into a dense jungle, where the road abruptly
terminated, and a return became necessary. Finally, the main road
was gained, and about ten o'clock the point where the detachment
had left the Regiment was reached. Then, on the broad, well-trod-
den road the speed of the caravan was increased, in the belief that
the command was near at hand. After a couple of miles' march the
unsteady movement of the horses gave evidence that they were not
" pursuing the straight and narrow path " that would lead them to
the Cavalry Corps. An examination of the ground by dismounting
and feeling with the hands failed to discover the beaten paths that
were always left by a heavy column of cavalry moving by fours, ^o
road had been observed leading off the one the detachment was on,
and so the march was resumed, when suddenly " Halt ! Who comes
there?" rang out clear and distinct in front. The response of ques-
tionable veracity of " Friends " was followed by an expressed desire
to interview one individual from our party, who was invited to ad-
vance. " One will advance to meet one from your party," was an-
swered. "All right!" came back, and Lieutenant Preston rode
forward with many misgivings and a cocked revolver, after giving
instructions for a cliargo in case of a prearranged signal. The two
individuals on whom such great responsibilities had suddenly fallen
approached each other in the gloom very cautiously. Bringing their
horses alongside, the riders bent forward and endeavored to discover
the true character of each other, bobbing their heads from side to
side like owls, but uttering not a word. Finally, the silence w^as
broken with "Is that you, Preston?" and the voice was instantly
recognized as that of Lieutenant Cutler, of the First Maine Cavalrv.

1864 SPECIAL SERVICE WITH GREGG'S BRIGADE. I97

He, too, had passed over the road with a foraging party, and reported
having had a brush with some oi the enemy a short distance ahead,
who tired upon his party from houses. On returning to his com-
mand liicutenant Preston was advised by one of the men that he had
found the road taken by the corps some ways back, tliey having
thrown down the fence and moved through the woods to the right.
The command was countermarched to the place, and, following the
trail through woods and fields, finally found the Regiment about mid-
night. It was learned then that every foraging party sent out that
afternoon had been attacked, showing the presence of a Confederate
force hovering on the flanks of Sheridan^s command.

The next morning, the 11th of June, 1864, the Tenth moved out
of camp with the brigade at 6.30 A. m., going in the direction of
Louis:i Court-IIouse, the First Division in advance, Custer's brigade
leading. The sound of artillery came from the direction of Trevil-
liau Station about 8.30 A. M., and an hour later the Tenth was
assigned to guard the trains. Hardly had the Regiment left the
road for the purpose, when Major Avery was directed to hurry
forward, and report with it to General Torbert. After passing
through the wood where Torbert was expected to be found in the
open field beyond, an aide galloped to the head of the Tenth with
orders fur the Major to take the Regiment to Colonel Gregg for spe-
cial service. Leading the way, the command moved to the left
through more woods and scrub-oaks. As the Tenth came into the
open, Colonel Gregg approached, and, after giving Major Avery in-
structions as to the part he wanted the Regiment to take in a charge
he wa,s ai>out to make, he returned to his brigade, which was in the
woml in front. The Tenth was immediately dismounted, and ad-
vanced along a fence to the left of and at right angles with the
road on which it had moved up. In front of the right of the Regi-
ment and distant about twenty rods were the Confederates in a piece
of wood, with plowed ground intervening. In front of the left was
a more extended open country. Colonel Gregg's brigade was on the
right, with the road intervening. When all was in readiness, the
bugles in the Second Brigade sounded the charge. Then followed an
incerv^ant rattle of carbines and the cheers of the charging column.
The men were hidden from view by the timber and scrub-oaks. After
a moment tlie cheering and firing slackened somewhat. The force of
the charge appeared to have been broken. In the mean time the
Tenth did not leave its place behind the fence, but kept up a rapid
fire on the enemy in its front. Major Avery did not appear to

198 HISTORY OF TflE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

understand that the Tenth was to unite in the charge. Finally, the
order was given, however, and the fence was scaled in a gallant man-
ner, and the Confederates driven rapidly from the timber and across
the open to the railroad beyond, losing many prisoners. It was one
of the most enterprising and gallant charges ever made by the Eegi-
ment, and called forth warm words of commendation from both the
brigade and division commanders, as well as from General Sheridan.
Of this action Adjutant Kennedy writes :

When the Tenth was dismounted it was ordered to form on the left of the
Second Brigade and to charge with it. In our front was a rail fence, behind
which the regiment formed a ]ine. This fence ran nearly the whole length of the
brigade. On the other side of the fence was a level field about thirty rods across.
After crossing this field we came to the railroad, which here ran through a cut
from six to eight feet deep. In this cut the enemy were posted in heavy force.
Just back of this cut, on a knoll, was the rebel battery. All this in our immediate
front to our right, and in front of the Second Brigade was the station-house and
several box-cars, and still farther on the right was a cut similar to the one in our
front. The enemy was in force all along tliis line — they retreated down the rail-
road to our left, and after making the charge we clianged front and followed
them, moving to the left, and covering a part of the ground over which we had
previously charged.

Major Avery was in command, and at this time was on the riglit of the Regi-
ment. When the bugle sounded the charge, the Second Brigade started, but for
some reason unknown to the writer, the old Tenth New York remained station-
ary. Captain Weir, of General Gregg's staff, came running out of the woods to
the right, swinging his saber and shouting f(n- us to charge. We jumped the
fence and started. By the time that the Tenth started, the Second Brigade had
reached the second fence and dropped down behind it. having drawn the enemy's
fire from our front, as well as the fire of tlie artillery ; and as they were now
hidden from the enemy, we were receiving a most terrific fire, not only from our
front, but from the cut which was filled with Johnnies. As our line reached the
second fence, we were forced to take refuge behind it for a short time. While
lying here several of our men were killed, and I.ieutenant Van Tuyl called out to
me, saying : " For God's sake. Adjutant, what are you going to do? We can't lie
here much longer I " I ran down to the right of tlie line to see what Major Avery
was going to do, and meeting Captain Blynn was informed that just as we got
over the first fence Lieutenant Preston was eitlier killed or wounded; and that
Major Avery had remained with him where he had fallen, to have him carried off
the field. Another charge was ordered, and away we went, this time with the
Second Brigade. Although we were obliged to cross a plowed field in full view of
the enemy, and subject to tlieir murderous fire, the line never faltered, and in a
very few moments the Tenth New York Cavalry jumped down in that railroad
cut to find that the enemy, not thinking it possible for us to dislodge them, had
remained too long to safely rotrcat, and we reaped a rich harvest in prisoners.
The battery meanwhile had limbered up and galloped off the field, taking the
road leading down the railroad to our left.

1864 CAPTAIN VANDERBILTS ACCOUNT. I99

Captain Vanderbilt writes as follows of the Trevillian fight :

The battle of Trevillian Station was in many respects one of the severest cav-
alry combats of the war; but to the Tenth New York not so disastrous as Brandy
Station, St. Mary's Church, or Little Auburn. Yet it was a hot fight, so hot in-
deed for our regiment as to deserve a place in the history of a long line of splen-
did achievements that made the name of the Tenth New York a synonym for
good work on the field. The history of the Trevillian Station fight is not easily
told ; but here are my views of the engagement :

Shortly after noon, June 11, 1864, our regiment was drawn up behind a
piece of wocxl, in column of squadrons, mounted ; soon we were listening to a
fi^'ht raging on our right front. We rather enjoyed hearing the rattle of carbines
ttnd the l>anging of our battery, being on the reserve out of harm's way. Our en-
j<iyn»ont wjis of short duration, however; for while our commander, Major Avery,
Adjutant Kennedy, and myself were sitting on our horses whiling away our time
in conversation. Colonel Gregg approached and ordered Major Avery to dismount
his* n'giment and form it on the left of the line of battle preparatory to a general
clmrgi».

The enemy's line of breastworks was on the brow of a small hill in our front.

The .Miijor, wheeling his horse, gave the order to dismount, for we were to go
in on f«K)t. The Regiment was speedily formed for a charge under cover of
wwxls. The men were told by the Major what was expected of them in a very
few choice words. An open plowed field lay before us, say, a distance of three
humlntl yards, in full view of the enemy's works, which were about five hundred
dislttul. Soon an order came to charge, and we started. We did not attempt to
fire ft «ihot, but the way they peppered us was a caution. It was about as severe
firtii;:^ as I ever saw. From the second the charge started, we ran with all our
might, stopping such bullets as we could not miss — no man anxious to stop more
than one — until we came to the foot of the rise. There we struck a ditch and
f«*no«», along which grew a few bushes. This position was about two hundred
yards from the enemy's works, which were situated on the crest of a small hill.
We hulf^'d and reformed, while the fence was being torn down, preparatory to
the finnl charge on the rebel breastworks. Brisk firing was kept up on both
>>di«i— they at the bushes, and we at anything that looked like a head above
their works.

It was here that Captain John Ordner, of Company A, of my squadron, was
kin*"*!, and Corporal Kimball Persons, of my company L, was shot through the
U'dy ftt my side. After he was stricken, he turned to me and said: '* Captain,
hrro is my diary ; send it to my sister, and tell her that I am not sorry that I en-
li«!ed." It was all he siiid, as he sank down and died. Noble hoy. Peter Rourke,
also of my Company, was struck down by a ball that hit his belt-plate. In an
in-tant he was up again and said he was all right. Although severely bruised, he
went in with the rest of us.

Suddenly a cheer started along the line, announcing the renewal of the con-
test. Onwjinl we pushed, with cheers and yells perfectly demoniacal, as we
mnrchitl over into their works, which they fought desperately to hold. The tried
Ti-terans of Wa<]c Hampton's gallant squadrons were not able to withstand the
imjH>tuous charge of the " Bloody Tenth New York." The combat became hand

200 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

to hand, and men were clubbed with the butts of carbines, and struck down with-
in arm's length of each other. It was a hot place, and terrible fighting ; but they
finally gave way and such as could scrfmpered to the rear in wild disorder. It
was then " every man for himself," and the Tenth New York take the hindmost.

We captured a number of the enemy in their works, and many others while
wc were chasing them a mile or so, until we came on other works with artillery.
Then we halted, and lay down against the face of a slight hill till dark, and after-
ward fell back. We picketed that night, and next day started on our return
inarch to the White House.

During the charge over the plowed field. Lieutenant Preston was struck
down by a bullet, causing a very dangerous wound. The Surgeon, believing him
to be mortally hurt, decided to leave him behind, telling him he could not sur-
vive a day's march, but the Lieutenant responded :

*' I had rather die with the boys than live with the rebs."

The striking manner in which our boys acquitted themselves was gracefully
acknowledged by our brigade commander.

Major J. M. Reynolds, at the time lieutenant of Company G, fur-
nishes the following beautiful word-painting descriptive of the en-
gagement :

How distinctly I recall our starting out on that hot Southern morning for
something of " the unknown" away from the main army ! No doubt a jump from
the frying-pan into the fire, but a free breath after the every-day hard marching and
fighting we had had since breaking camp from winter quarters. All the novelty
had departed, even patriotism was worn threadbare, our fighting appetites sur-
feited, and the end not yet. Two thoughts of that morning I shall always re-
member : First, the dread of being wounded on one of those detached expeditions
and falling into the hands of the enemy ; second, that if Horace Greeley and Jeff
Davis could be forced to represent sides and fight the thing to a finish I should
feel happier.

After two or three days of hot, dusty marching the inevitable was at hand ;
the sound of the "opening gun " struck the ear and the heart simultaneously, and
our line of march was always unerringly in its direction. After a forenoon of
momentary readiness, partly under artillory-firo, the order came: "Prepare to
fight on foot I " Now for it ! " Fall in in front ! forward I " We go through a
piece of timber. As we emerge into the clearing we are met by a volley that
comes from the enemy beliind yonder fence. Wc give them a return. A change
to the fence is ordered; it looms up to us like a refuge of defense even with an
enemy behind it. The latter gives way as we near it — an easy victory, we say ;
but the fence gained only reveals the main line of the enemy behind the railroad,
and ourselves in position to receive the fire from small-arms in front and artillery
on the flank. The fence proved delusive, serving to even up our line, however.
The bullets cut the rails with a death-dealing savagery that was terrorizing.
"Forward ! come on !" comes the order, the advance following quickly the brave,
plucky little officer giving it as he scaled the fence defiantly, yes, eagerly. We
felt a sense of pride and manliness in our leadership. It was our commissary.
Lieutenant Preston, who would have been thought doing full duty if back with

1804 EXPERIENCE OF COMMISSARY PRESTON. 201

the train, out of harm's way. Ye who set a price on liberty and the war, tell
me why was he tlierc? What have you to offer in payment for the voluntary
offering of this human life f True heroism, thank Gfod, is priceless! Over the
fence 'twas sultry hot and deadly with lead and dust. A volley half chccekd
our advance, when 1 heard that indescribable sound of bullet striking human
flesh and bones! Our gallant leader had received a ball, swinging him around
almost into my arms. Never shall I forget the look of mingled pain and disap-
pointment his colorless face revealed. It was an inspiration to "go on !" which
we did until the enemy broke again, uncovering in their stampede several regi-
ments of led horses compactly formed. How intently we wished we were
mounted! Nothing could have kept us from capturing and scattering their
whole mount ; but we dropped down at the railroad bank from complete exhaus-
tion, like dead men. The enemy had reserves up and a battery playing upon us
by the time we had reformed. I chanced to be on the extreme right, next the
niilroad. Four of us were "condensed" behind a small bush, when "bang!"
came a solid shot, taking off the arm of the man on my right. I concluded that
my ** position was untenable," and undertook to cross the little plot, where I
would be behind the hill with the Regiment. There was such a shower of lead
I knew it was an impossibility, so dropped flat and feigned dead. The enemy's
hue was just on the edge of a piece of wood, about one hundred and fifty yards
distant. They were climbing trees to get dead shots. 1 lay directly in line of one of
their guns, the distance being such that I could hear the friction-primer, then the
shell, but could not hear the report of the gun. I tried it faithfully all the after-
n<x>n. It's a fact I leave for science to determine. It is with no small sense of
grutitude and thanksgiving that I contemplate at this date the cheapness with
which any scientifically inclined gentleman could have bought me out during that
never-to-be-forgotten afternoon ; but, enough of personal experience, each had
one, thrilling and vital to himself. 1 can not do the brave men of the gallant
Tenlli full justice for their valor on that day.

Commissary Preston gives his experience, after being wounded, in
tliese words : .

How the recollections of that glorious charge at Trevillian rekindles the fire
of youth and sends the hot blood coursing through the veins! IIow the memory
of the gidlant action of the men who swept over the field of death that day comes
vividly to mind ! It was a grand exhibition of heroism. Here, as on other fields
efiually as bloo<ly, the Tenth did nobly. The writer saw but little of the grand
charge— t»nly the first part ; but the gallant manner in which the men went for-
ward in that storm of lead has always caused him to feel proud of his associa-
tion with the Tenth New York Cavalry. Just after clearing the fence, in the
beginning of the action. I was struck in the right hip by a Minio ball, and was
carrittl Imck to the shade of some trees. Here an examination of the wound was
made. In the mean time the wounded men rapidly accumulated about me. As
shells from a Confederate battery were falling in the midst of the wounded, they
were remr>ved to a safer place. In the transfer 1 was left in the wood, with no
one near but my faithful colored boy. Aaron. Here I remained till evening.
The great loss of blood had produced unconsciousness for a part of the time.

202 HISTORY OF THE TENTH irEGIJIENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

Just alter dark I was carried into an old house and placed on a filthy bed of
straw. In this place I was visited later hy Adjutant Kennedy, from whom I
received the first information of the glbrions results of the charge. After the
Adjutant's departure, Surgeon Tease canio to sec rac. From him I learned that
General Sheridan had determined to comniciiee the return march in the morning,
and as there were but eiglit ambulances and nearly five hundred wounded to be
provided for, a number of the most scriiws eases of wounded were to be left
behind. Assistant Surgeon Sickler, of the Tcntli, was to be left in charge of them.
My name was among the number to be left,. I insisted tliat 1 would not volun-
tarily surrender myself to a lingering death in rebel prisons. If I was to die, I
was determined it shoukl be in an attempt to get away. Although expressing
his belief that I could not withstand two hours' ride, Surgeon Pease- promised to
have me provided with transportation, and after dressing the wound left me.

When the Surgeon had gone, I was left alone, to contemplate what my future
would be. There were a number of Union and Confederate wounded and dead
soldiers lying about the room. A pine knot in the broad, open fireplace blazed
up occasionally' and then smoldered down. Its flickering light gave a weird
appearance to the scene, which was rendered more dreary and impressive by the
meanings of the poor suHerers, whose lives, like the burning fagot, were grad-
ually going out. A handsome young Confederate major was brought in late at
night and placed by my side. His name was Russell.* He was very weak and
pale. A bullet had entered his right side and fractured the spine. He was a
bright, intelligent appearing man, who bc^rc liis sufferings with soldierly forti-
tude. He made mention of his family, and also spoke of the disastrous result of
the day's fighting to his regiment.

In an account of the Trevillian Station engagement written by me and pub-
lished in the Philadelphia "Weekly Times, in 1880, mention was made of Major
Russell's death, etc. A few days after its publication I received the following
beautiful tribute of a sister's love, from a far-oil Tennesee home :

• Oaklawx, Lookout Mountain, September 1, 1880.
Captain N. D. Preston :

My Dear Sir: I received this morning a copy of the Times of the 28th of
August, containing your account of the battle of Trevillian Station. You will
know how full of deep and painful interest your communication is to me and to
my family when I tell you tiiat the Major Russell who died by your side "on a
straw mattress in an old log-house" was my brother. Major Whitcford Doughty
Russell, oldest son of Hon. FT. F. Russell, of Augusta, Ga. He was wounded on
the 11th of June, 18C4, and died on the 1-^th. Your account creates a discrepancy
which may be caused by a confusion of days in your mind.

You misunderstood my brother in reference to his marriage. He had been
married five years, and was the father of two children, girls. He had returned

* General Hampton, in his report of the Trevillian engagement, says : " My
loss in my own division was 59 killed, 258 wounded, and 21)5 missing ; total, C12.
Among the former I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel McAllister,
Seventh Georgia, who behaved with great gallantry, and Captain Russell, of the
same regiment, who was acting as major."

18G4 A SISTER'S BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE. 203

from a visit to his family but a day or two before he was killed. The Times of
the 28th was sent me by the gentleman who has recently married his elder daugh-
ter, Dr. Paul Fitzsiraons, U. S. N., now stationed in Philadelphia. My brother's
widow and younger daughter are visiting me at my summer home on Lookout
Mountain. More than sixteen years have gone slowly and wearily by to us since the
day you were carried into that log-hut and laid by the side of the dying man who
had filled so many lives with happiness, so many hearts with pride. To-day your
hand has lifted the tear-besprinkled veil which separated us from the terrible hour
when the news of his death came.

"We have often longed for more definite information of his last hours than we
have heretofore been able to obtain ; and are grateful that an appreciative soul
"Was near him in that final struggle, which found him worthy of the name he bore,
and still unchanged in the mastery of his great will. You speak of the evidences
of a noble character which my brother gave in the few moments you knew him ;
I had lived face to face and heart to heart with him for eighteen years ; the judg-
ment of my maturer years confirms the impression made upon a youthful heart,
that he was physically, mentally, and morally the noblest man I ever knew. Life
has brought no greater blessing to me than to have known and loved him. Such
being my feelings, you will, I am sure, pardon the trespass upon your time when
I ask you to give me as faithful and detailed an account of the hours passed with
my brother as the lapse of time will allow. What is to you merely one among
many painful incidents is to me of the deepest and most reverential importance.

Very truly yours,

Anna Russell Cole.

At an early hour on the morning of the 12th I was suddenly seized by two
men, taken to the door, and thrown into an ambulance ; an officer, standing by,
meantime urging the men to "hurry up; get these wounded out, quick!" As
Foou as I was landed inside the ambulance, the whip was applied to the horses,
and away we went, at a fearful pace, over the rough roads. I was jolted from
side to side, my wound starting to bleed afresh. Although weak and suffering, I
experienced a feeling of positive cheerfulness in the knowledge that I was not to
be abandoned to the enemy. It was a fair example of the triumph of mind over
matter.

General Sheridan had given his private ambulance for the use of Lieutenant
P. D. Mason, a young artillery officer, and myself. Every effort had been made
to provide transportation for the wounded. The heavy supply -wagons were
utilize<l, and the surrounding country made to contribute in the way of "private
eijuiprtges."

The efforts of General Sheridan to take the wounded with him were appre-
ciated. Men who were clinging to the sides of the grave gratefully accepted the
chances of a place in the hard, uncomfortable government wagons in which they
were in some cases packed in crosswise. The march was continued from day to
day, through the oppressive heat and stifling dust, with scarcely a murmur from
tlu-^ noble fellows. On the completion of a day's march, after the train had
parketl, a detail passed along and removed those who had died during the day.
But they met their fates bravely. In his report of the Trevillian Station affair
Gcnon\l Sheridan says :

204: HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

"On my return from Trevillian to this point (White House), we halted at inter-
vals, during each day, to dress the wounded and refresh them as much as possible.
Nothing could exceed the eheerfuhiess exhibited by them, hauled as they were in
old buggies, carts, ammunition-wagons, etc. ; no word of complaint was heard. I
saw on the line of march men with wounded legs driving, while those with one
disabled arm were using the other to whip up the animals."

On the evening of the 18th I learned that the wounded and contrabands, over
four hundred of the former and about two thousand of the latter, were to be sent
to West Point on the York River, in the morning, for shipment to Washington.
The same evening Surgeon Peixse took the bullet from my left side near the spine.
It had entered the right hip just in front of the seam on the trowsers.

After the Regiment had reached the railroad in the charge at Tre-
villian, and was under a severe fire from the enemy in front and flank,
our battery, away to the rear, with the intent of shelling the enemy
over the heads of our men, were firing short and sending the shells
into our lines. Major Avery called for a volunteer to go back and
advise General Gregg or the commander of the battery to cease firing
or to elevate their pieces. It was a perilous undertaking, but Ser-
geant Famsworth immediately offered to go. A ridge swept by the
Confederate fire intervened, but Famsworth walked rapidly across the
open space to the wood beyond, where lie found and mounted his
horse and hastened on his errand, and delivered his message to Gen-
eral Gregg. The commander of the battery was notified, and ceased
firing. It required great courage to perform such an act — an expos-
ure to the concentrated fire from the enemy's line with none to divide
the chances — and the Sergeant was complimented by Major Avery for
it, and not long afterward was promoted to a lieutenancy.

Robert Trotter, formerly of Company D, of the Tenth, serving at
this time with Battery M, Second United States Artillery, gives the
following version of the action of the artillery in the early part of the
engagement :

The circumstaiices, as I remember them, are these: General Custer was ordered
to join another brigade at the station at 8 A. m. I remember seeing the rebel vi-
dettesaswe passed between them and their reserve-picket post. The Fifth Michi-
gan Cavalry had the advance of the brigade. When near the station they charged
the rebel reserve and captured two caissons and thirty-five wagons and ambu-
lances and about seventy-five prisoners. We had been in position and fired a few
shots in support of the charge, when an order came for us to limber to the front
and advance, which we did, the road running through the woods until we came
opposite the station — or, rather, where it had been, for only the side-tracks, etc.,
remained. We halted just opposite the station. In the mean time they had got
one or two pieces of artillery in position to our right, and opened fire on us. We
were ordered by General Custer to reply. While in the act of unlimbering the

, ^^- '

CAPTAIN WALTER R. PERRY,
Co. A.

1864 ROBERT TROTTER'S ACCOUNT. 205

piece, Custer's aide, superintending it, happened to see on the other side of the track
a regiment of reJ)el infantry lying quietly behind the fence. He gave instructions
to the Lieutenant in charge to get t^at piece out of there as quickly as possible ;
but, instead of tlmt, the Lieutenant, who had a stentorian voice, sang out : "Can-
noneers, prep;. re to mount ! Mount ! " whereupon the rebels rose up and fired a
volley, and with a yell made for the battery, the rest of which — three guns and
six caissons — were standing limbered up in the road. It so happened that there
were two ga{)s let down in the rail fence on the side opposite from the rebels.
Lieutenant Pennington gave the command, " By the left flank," which took us
through the ft-nce. We went at a gallop for about two hundred yards, when he
gave the command, "In battery — fire to the rear! Double-shot with canister!"
which onler was very quickly obeyed. That volley checked the rebels at this
time; and from that time until 1.30 p. m. we were continually firing. I don't
know just iiow many rounds my piece fired, but we had fired perhaps fifteen
rounds when we received orders from General Custer to refill our limber-chest, as
the enemy was jirerssing him so hard he feared they would capture his wagons and
caissons ; and, as on one part of the field no enemy had yet been seen, he directed
that they be sent there for safety. They had scarcely reached the place before a
regiment of relvl cavalry charged upon and took the whole lot. They were so
hotly pursued, liowever, and one of the caissons becoming stuck in a ditch, that it
and the baitery-wagon were recaptured; but they got away with all the rest of
the wagon* and led-horses belonging to the battery, excepting one other caisson
that had one of its drivers and one horse killed in the beginning, and consequently
was not with the rest. As to the gun that was captured, it had no support, and
when the drivers saw that capture was inevitable theyjan away with the limber,
and before it could be run off by hand some of our cavalry charged and took it

The lo*.^ of Battery M in this engagement was as follows: Four caissons, bat-
tery fortre, forty-five men killed, wounded, and missing (mostly taken prisoners),
and sixty-six horses. I was acting No. 5, first piece, Battery M, Second U. S. Ar-
lillery, »

Lieutenant Edson, of Company D, relates the following incident :

There wa-s a recruit in Company D, by the name of Pendall, only seventeen
years old, who measured six feet in height. The boys had joked him consider-
ably, and he toM them the first fight that he participated in he would show them
5omo ** tall " fighting. Trevillian was his first opportunity, and he was one of the
earliest ones to start in the charge. There was a small house a short distance in
atlvance, and Pendall made direct for it. The first thing the boys saw was Pen-
dall cha.>!ing a reb, even t<iller than himself, both bareheaded. It was as even a
rivya as I ever saw. Pendall ran the reb around the house and into it, and, when
the n'^t of the company came up, they found Pendall standing in the doorway,
holding eii^'ht rebs prisoners, with an empty revolver! Pendall served with the
Regiment to the close of the war, with credit to himself and his company.

In the Rev. Joseph H. Bradley the Tenth possessed a model chap-
lain. The Regiment hardly Jiccded the services of a chaplain. It

206 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAYAIAIY. 1864

was made up of good fellows. Before his assignment to it the
Tenth had established a reputatioii for itself as a " preying " regi-
ment. But the boys found in the new chaplain a man of a kind and
sympathetic nature, practical and earnest in his endeavors to do
good. He mingled with the men, learned their needs, and endeavored
to supply them; sometimes went with them on their foraging ex-
peditions, to see that the preying was properly done. Ho recoguized
the stern necessity which called for the taking of food froni the peo-
ple through whose country the soldiers passed, but he Avould liave
Christian forbearance in the execution of the dut}-; giving i)ractical
application to the scriptural injunction, " These things ought ye to
have done, and not to leave the other undone." That lie was the
right kind of a chap, may be learned from the following interesting
incidents contributed by him :

Chaplairi's Beminiscences.

The most interesting episode in the history of the Tenth New York Cavalry,
during my connection with it, was the TrevilUan raid. At least to my thinking
I say it. The Cavalry Corps were then keeping company all by themselves (a
fact of course highly appreciated), and were carrying on a little war of thf;ir own.
The three weeks spent on this raid, when we visited the heart of the enemy's ter-
ritory and had almost daily conflicts, began the very day, and within an liour, of
the time I reported for duty. It was a sudden and thorough introduction to the
true inwardness of cavalry life, in which I speedily took a just pride, and main-
tain it till this day.

Major H. K. Clark, surgeon, and myself were naturally thrown togctlier, and
I was deposited on his hands by Colonel Avery's direction, through the interme-
diary services of an orderly upon reporting my arrival in camp. I flatter myself
that the Surgeon never regretted the fact, nor repented of his fatherly care, except
it might have been once, and that quickly, when we bivouacked the first night.
The dear and good Surgeon loved a good and soft thing as well as I, and during our
first ride, having kindly inquired about my provision in the way of blankets for
night covering, was (as I afterward heard him relate) much gratified and inwardly
congratulated himself in having such a richly provided bedfellow, when I informed
him I had three large blankets in ray train. He expected fair play from me in
their use, but at bedtime was dismayed when he saw mo pulling those blankets
over myself like a great bag; for they were doubled lengthwise, and were sewed
up at one end and almost the full length of one side. It was a splendid arrange-
ment for me (a trick learned in my previous campaigning), but aflordiiig small
satisfaction to an outside party. I do not know that he ever got over his disap-
pointment, for he never lost an opportunity to poke fun at me generally during
the whole of our association till the close of the war.

One of his proddings, assaulting my pure and innocent soul, was brought into
play whenever he chanced to quote Longfellow's Excelsior (the Surgeon had a
poetic soul— and I hope still has it, for I love him still— and often relieved his

1864 CHAPLAIN'S REMINISCENCES. 207

heart with poetic bursts— not always original, however). When he came to this
use of ** Excelsior " he would stop at the close of one of the verses and solemnly
inquire, " Chaplain, do you think the young man did right in that ? " (I shall not
idfntify the verse but leave that to the reader.) Or he would ask, "Chaplain, do
you think you would have done anything so unfeeling as thatf I always as-
sumed a proper show of propriety and dignity under these inquisitorial fires,
and enjoyed them no less than did my would-be tormentor. He was a great
tease, but found me an unprofitable subject. He had a great habit of scribbling
on the margins and blank leaves of books, and I treasure (mainly for his sake) a
little book of Psalms which he subjected to this treatment.

The sjovcre engagement at Hawe's Shop occurred a few days before the Tre-
viiliftji fi^'lil. There was a farm-house alongside where our battery was at work,
and Dr. Clark had taken possession of a small out-building to operate on a
wounded soldier. While performing the amputation of a leg (I believe), a rebel
•hell carno through one wall and striking the other fell back upon the floor.
There wjis a moment's spell-bound silence anticipating the bursting of the shell ;
then Surgeon Clark found strength to say, " Johnny (Cowles), take that shell out I "
It wa.s done. The surgical operation was at its most critical point, that of tying
up an artery, and it would have been death to the wounded man to have run and
left him, or have loosened the hold on that artery. This will evidence the kind
o( " stuff " our surgeon and hospital steward were made of.

On this Trevillian raid, when the column was halted at noon. Surgeon Clark
and I started to visit a house in sight and about a mile distant. Those were days
when pn>vi>ions were scarce and the variety limited, hence the temptation great
to pi<k up something and anything in the way of a new diet. We knew the
country .nround was infested with bushwhackers, and bodies of the enemy were
cons^tAntly on our flanks and ready to take in or hang up any stragglers or wan-
derers who might fall into their hands. Nevertheless the temptation was great
to try our luck at the distant farm-house in sight of our column. We started
•* %cro<ii |<4s," in the usual cavalryman way, and soon after jumping over a ditch
found ourselves in a drained field and where the gibund was very light and po-
n)u«. The liorses several times went down in holes to their bellies, and we found
ourM'lvt^ cfimpelled to slow up our pace on account of this treacherous soil. But
ha.^te wns imj>en\tive and we steered for the farther side of the field, the Surgeon
lead iMij the wftv. and the horses repeatedly struggling in these holes of spongy
eanh. The Surgeon reached the ditch on the farther side, which was about six
fei't deep and wide, but the soft soil failed to give his horse a good foothold for
the jump, so that he came short, with only his fore-feet striking tlic opposite side.
1 wa-* (\)ntjHlle<l quickly to rein in my horse, or I would have gone on top of the
.'>urj:»s.in, whose horse was scrambling np the opposite side of the ditch. Riding
Iwu'k A few fei>t to get headway for my own jump, I made again for the ditch, but
the h<.r-«« refused the leap. 1 tried him several times, but always with the same
result. In the mean time the Surgeon had gone on and was out of sight; our
c*>lumn of troops was then also out of sight ; and I was left alone, in a sense im-
prisoneil in this drained quagmire, through the confirmed stupidity of my steed.
Tl)e situation presented itself to my mind in most desperate and an alarming
light in view of the probability that bushwhackers were around, and my solitary
and <lefenseles3 plight would deliver me into their hands. The possibilities of

208 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

the situation filled me with dread, and a tumult of thought rushed through my
mind, for I imagined every minute of delay was fraught with dangers, and vis-
ions of a " short shrift " or the back rdad to a Richmond prison confronted me.
Wildly casting about for some means to extricate myself, I espied a pile of fence-
rails on the opposite side of the ditch. My inventive faculty, which would have
made the fortune of an engineer officer, I do not doubt, like a flash suggested my
only means of escape. Quickly dismounting and leaving my horse standing (he
calmly went to grazing), I clambered to the pile of rails and began with might
and main to throw them down into the ditch, and with perspiration pouring out
of me in streams and trembling with anxiety, after a little time had half filled
the ditch with these rails. Then easily catching my horse I led him without
difficulty across this substitute for the bridge or causeway. With nervous haste I
mounted, and, finding myself on good ground, sped after the column whose
whereabouts were unknown. The farm-house larder had lost all its charms, and a
safe return to my place in column was the one devoutly desired attainment. How
or when I got back I do not remember, but somehow I got there. The rear-
guard welcomed me with some wonder as 1 reached them ; and I bestowed after-
ward a due amount of reproaches on the Surgeon for leaving me alone in the
midst of so many perils. I have an indefinite remembrance that he professed
surprise that I had not followed closely .after him.

Of course, on this raid we were compelled to live off the enemy, and daily
foraging parties were sent out to scour the country for provisions. The thrilling
tales told around our camp-fires of the adventures encountered stimulated my de-
sire to see for myself the methods of these operations, which were not unaccom-
panied with dangers in going miles away from our line of march, and I requested
permission to go with a foraging party. The experience was certainly interest-
ing. At one quiet and neat little white frame house we found several middle-aged
maiden ladies and one old man. All were very respectable in appearance, and as
though dressed in expectation of company. They were much alarmed upon our
appearance and demands for provisions, and assured us that they had nothing in
the house. I took a chair in the sitting-room to listen to their denials and to
quiet their fears of harm and convince them of our peaceable and orderly inten-
tions. The others of the party had scattered over the house, some going uprstairs ;
and while the family were protesting to me that they were destitute of supplies even
for themselves, an ominous noise was heard above, and immediately a barrel of
flour began a hasty and unceremonious descent of the stairs into the room where
I was. The family wore speechless in the face of such a contradiction of their
plea of barrenness. The head of the barrel came out by the time it reached the
bottom of the stairs, scattering much of the contents on the floor. Our limited
means of transportation necessitated the eonfi.scation of several lace-edged (not
imported lace though, but home-made) pillow-cases from the beds to carry the
flour to camp.

We afterward the same afternoon went to quite a pretentious country man-
sion. A flock of sheep were seen feeding in a field close by. Instantly several
of the detail were chasing those sheep, firing their revolvers at them from horse-
back. It was great sport for the cavalrymen, but not for the terrified sheep nor
for the occupants of the mansion. A good many women were at this house, who
came out on our appearance as wo rode into the front yard and under the shade

t.tf»t. U'lIJuun' I'.. C/aTi's
A'rg'f. Quarfrrtnaster.

Oiaiu't'tT. Sprncer,
fi^S'l- Quartermaster S'g-'i.

Lieut. Noble D. Preston, ,j
Keg'l. Cp»imissary of ^4

Subsistence

.\--<t\taiit Stit\;;e(ni

Captain Ji',^iJ>n If. Bradlt'v,
Cf I a plain.

A PORTION OF THE STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

1S64 CHAPLAIN'S REMINISCENCES. 209

of splendid trees. A troop of negroes also put in an appearance. The women
natumlly were excited and enraged, and most roundly abused us. I undertook
my usual plirt of pucificutor, but with poor success, as may well be imagined, for
A number of the men had dismounted and without ceremony began i^kiriijishing
for provisions around and within the house. 1 surmise that they went tlirough
that house indiscriminately. The inhabitants were pale with rage, and poured out
tlii'ir viiils principally upon me. I was able to bear it with much equcinimity.
Complaint was maile of unnecessary pillage, and I requested a sergeant to exam-
ine the nature of the proceedings up-stairs and restrain any undue extravagance
on the jMirt of the men ; but the virulence of the people shown (not that it was
unnattiral or unpardonable under the circumstances) greatly mitigated any sense
of indignation the acts of any of our party might otliorv ise have awakened. The
n'sourtx'S of this plantation were quite various, and speedily the men began to
ccjmo back from their several directions with wonderful and strange supplies. I
most di-Htinctly remember one man came to me with the inquiry, " Chajilain, do
you like preserves I" 1 was touched on a tender spot. Then he handed up to
me as I still sat in the saddle a tall stone jar (such as we are accustomed to see in
our own well-st(K-ked homes). No spoons nor dishes came with the jar of pre-
^^rves, antl the exigencies of the service requirad the use of my fingers to extract
its contents, which I accordingly did forthwith. It was very toothsome after the
u^uaJ far© of such a campaign, but there was little dignity or stylo about the
mean* of making that jar of preserves available while balancing it with one hand
on the |>ommel of the Sixddle and rescuing its contents with the other without the
aid of the usual adjuncts of civilized and polite living.

This one ex{)t'rience in foraging satisfied all my curwsity and finished my
eilucation as a cavalry raider.

What a ilusty time we had of it on this Trevillian raid ! Toward the close of
it men and horses went into bivouac in one common coating and blending of yel-
low tint. The clouds of impalpable dust rose up as we marched, and on the last
day of our outward course among the thick woods the slowly rising dust which
envi-loj'^tj us n»se above the tree-tops and clearly 'exposed our progress to the
enemy, wlm sliolh-d the column from this indication of our position. As we
ncanxl the tMitlle-field we passed a wounded Confederate lying on the edge of the
rv»ml. The enemy's shells were flying about us, but compassion for this boy drew
me aside ft>r a moment to help him. Dismounting at his side I did what I could
for his e<»mf«)rt. He seemed badly hurt, and I took his name and the address of
his family and promised to write to his home for him. lie lived in Norfolk, Va.,
if I rii:htly retnember. I sent a letter to his relatives.

That June night after the fight at Trevillian I think I came nearer to freezing
to death than ever in my life. The Regiment bivouacked on a slope of ground
and the niin In-gan falling. It seemed to enter to and cliill the very marrow in
the Ixtnes. We built fires and laid ourselves so close to them that the one side of
the UhIv almost roasted while the other froze. The enemy, seeing our fires,
shelknl the position, and in the black darkness and with considerable confusion
we vacated that phu*e. I imagine everybody felt altogether miserable and
wn'tchwl. Somehow after a while I found myself with the Regiment in the
neii;hlH:»rho<Ml of a farm-house, but the darkness was so intense and the rain still
ftUling that it was impossible to make out where we were or hardly to identify our
U

210 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

own selves. Take that whole night through and I would put it down as the worst
spent one of my whole army life. About midnight I managed to find room in
the partial shelter of what 1 believe wtis a half-full corn-crib along with a miscel-
laneous company of others, where rank and previous conditions seemed to count
for little. The farm-house and barn, etc., constituted a sort of universal head-
quarters for all ranks and departments of the service, a large number of officers
and men being mixed up in the same conditions of deplorable difficulties.

Toward morning it was reported that the Cavalry Corps would begin the re-
turn march, and it moved off in the night, leaving the Tenth New York as rear-
guard, with orders to remain on the ground till daylight. The remaining hours
"Were anxious ones while we were alone before the enemy. The rain had ceased
and the sky cleared and our eyes watched for the coming day, expecting that the
enemy would discover our situation ; but the morning slowly — very, very slowly —
drew on and everything was in readiness to move the moment our appointed time
came. The day broke gloriously. Never was morning light more welcome or
beautiful to my eyes ! "When the order came to move we went. A bridge near
by was torn up after we crossed it, and, with a lightness of heart like a bird's, I
took a cross-cut over the field to the head of column.

All my memories of the Tenth New York Cavalry are full of pleasantness.
No dearer anticipation could gladden my heart than the possibility of sitting
down in the midst of the whole Regiment once more gathered. For every man
in it I cherish a tender regard. My service as chaplain was one of the brightest
episodes of life, and which 1 would gladly live over again. Were that possible the
dearest desire of my heart would be to serve the comrades as their chaplain far
better than I did in the " lang syne," and which the added years and experience
of life would enable me to do.

Colonel Theo. F. Rodenbough, brevet brigadier-general United
States Volunteers, whose gallantry on the field of battle is attested by
an empty sleeve, says in regard to the Trevillian Station engage-
ment of the 11th :

The Tenth New York, of Davies's brigade, also distinguished itself in the
assault.*

Of the relative strength of the opposing forces at Trevillian Gen-
eral Sheridan estimated his own elTectives at eight thousand, while
General Butler, temporarily in command of Hampton's division in
that engagement, says :

The strength of Hampton's forces can not be given accurately, but is esti-
mated at about five thousiind all told.f

It would seem that General Hampton's force must have been
greater, since he reports a loss in liis division (General Butler in com-
mand) of 01:2, an excessive loss for one division.

* Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. iv, p. 234. 4- Ibid., p. 239.

18W GEXERAL SHERIDAN ON THE RETURN MARCH. 211

General Sheridan commenced the return march on the night of
Iho VHh of June. The Tenth Ayas engaged in tearing up railroad
tnick part of the night. Moving out it took its place in the column
of march at 2 A. M. on the 13th, and, after crossing the North Anna,
did some fora.j:^ing. On one of these expeditions some of the mem-
bers of the band had a skirmish, in which Burt Orser was captured
and Thoniiis L. Townley barely escaped keeping him company. On
the lath the command passed through Spottsylvania Court-House,
and over the scenes of the fierce struggles between the two armies the
proceiiing month. The next day Sergeant Nelson Washburn, of
Comfiuny L, wiis wounded while on a foraging expedition. Then
on tlie 18th Sergeant Major Farnsworth, with eight men from the
lU-giment, went out to try and obtain forage, and was attacked by a
sujHTior force from the Fourth Virginia Cavalry, and lost five men,
two of whom, Clarence Newmire and Orange Egbertson, were killed.
Elias Evans, Julius Moak, and Silas Ostrander, were taken prisoners,
the latter wounded and afterward recaptured.

Crosaing the Mattapony at 7 A. m. on the 20th, the Eegiment set-
tle<l down at White House at four o'clock. All was quiet at the time.
In the morning the Confederate cavalry had attacked the immense
wagon-train of the army parked there, but had been driven off and
kept at bay by the gunboats.

Moving across the Pamunkey at an early hour, the boys expected
to have a brush with the enemy, but finally recrossed the river about
8 A. M.; then, two hours later, passed over the pellucid waters of the
I*amunkey again, and succeeded in stirring up a little quarrel with
the enemy, but nothing, serious resulted. The Regiment was relieved
from the t^kirmish-line on the evening of the 22d, and retired to the
blulT.-!, went into camp and drew rations. At two o'clock, again on
the road. The Confederates were attacked and driven to Baltimore
Cros:5-road3, They took the aggressive, however, on the morning of
tlie 23(1, which ended in slight skirmishing. The Regiment reached
Jones Bridge, on the Chickahominy, and crossed at 11 A. M. Here
the trains passed over in safety, the sharp crack of the carbines on the
right, meantime, denoting the presence of the Confederates in force
in tlie woods there. The men were standing to horse when the even-
ing shades came on.

To the members of the Second Cavalry Division the 24th of
June, lS\',i, will always stand out in bold relief. This was the day
on^ wliich the battle of St. Mary's Church occurred. The enemy
chivalrously allowed time for breakfast, and then the music bec^an.

212 HISTORY OF TUB TENTH KEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

By ten o'clock the skirmishing becai^ie quite general and continued
until afternoon. About four o'clock the enemy attacked in force with
both cavalry and infantry. The Second Division, which had advanced
on the Richmond road, to protect the moving trains, bore the shock
of the onset alone and unsupported, the First Division having moved
on the direct road as escort to the trains. The contest was so un-
equal— the Confederates outnumbering Gregg three to one — that our
line was broken, and in the confusion which followed in the woods
and undergrow^th, regiments became mixed up and all semblance of

organization was lost. It was the first and only time the colors of the
Second Division were lowered. But its action saved the trains, which
were safely passing along while the engagement was in progress.

Captain George Vanderbilt, of Company L, furnishes the follow-
ing account of the operations of tlie Kcgiment from the 20th to the
25th of June, including the actions at "White House Landing, Chicka-
hominy, and St. Mary's Church :

Sheridan, with his First and Second Divisions of Cavalry, returned from the
Trevillian raid, reaching White IIoiiso Ijanding ^Monday, June 20, 18G4, at 4.30
p. M., where he found some transports and the gunboat lola.

Some colored troops were across the Paniunkey, fighting rebel cavalry, assist-
ed by the gunboat. Tuesday, June 21st, our brigade crossed over at 3 a. m., dis-
mounted, and lay formed on the sand till 10 a. m., tlien returned across the river.

1804 CAPTAIN GEORGE VANDERBILT'S ACCOUNT. 213

Hero we had breakfast, mounted, crossed over again and took a hand in the free
fight, and fouglit till darkness put a stop to it, our Regiment supporting J. I.
Gregg's Second Brigade on the extreme right of the line. My squadron, Compa-
nies A and L, supported a battery. Stood to horse all night. Wednesday, June
22«l, was a dark and cloudy day. We were relieved from the Second Brigade and
reported back to our First Brigade, General H. E. Davies, on the left of the line,
al 6 A. M. At 2 F. M. moved out to Baltimore Cross-roads three miles and camped.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Squadrons, under Major Weed, were ordered on
picket half a mile out on the Bottom's Bridge road; they had a very unpleasant
time, as there was continuous firing along the line. Thursday, June 23d, was
clear and bright. In the early morning five men of Company K, who had been
capturetl during the night, within twenty rods of Captain Snyder's picket reserve,
came in, stripi»ed of everything. We moved out at 8 a. m. to Jones's Bridge
over the C'hitkahominy River, and saw there an immense wagon-train and real-
ized that we were expecied to guard it safely to the James River. Our brigade
Baud wju> ilrawn up beside the pontoon bridge and played inspiring airs as we
crt>sstHl the famous river. We no sooner reached the opposite side than our brigade
with the First Division and some colored troops got into a big fight. We, how-
ever, forced the robs back some distance ; by evening all became quiet and we went
into CAinp and unsiiddled. It was extremely hot, day and night. We had our fru-
gjtl supjxT prepared and just commenced to eat it, when a volley on the line
Crt^J^4.•tl a big scrabble. " Saddle up and stand to horse," and so we lost our much-
uei'ded meaL Some of the boys were guilty of saying disagreeable things about
thti Jt^hnnies, for which I did not chide them.

Friday, June 24th, opened clear, hot, and dusty. It was to witness the most
dc3?|H"rate figijiing ever done by Gregg's gallant Second Division ; the First Divis-
ion and Sheritlan himself had gone forward to the James River. We moved out
about three miles to St. Mary's Church, halted about noon, dismounted, and or-
denxl ti> get dinner; had just commenced preparations when the familiar "Boots
and sailtlles" was blown. We marched forward say a half-mile, dismounted and
r>niie<I line of battle; the Second Brigade was already fighting. Our Regiment was
f»««>teil alonj; tlio edge of a piece of woods and partly in it. I with my squadron,
Com{>«ny .\, commanded by Lieutenant Perry, and my company, L, was on the left
of the Hegiinont across an old wood-road leading through the strip of wood say
ihreo hundreil yards wide, the rebs in plain view beyond the wood. They com-
menced to advance in earnest about 3 p. m., when Major Avery ordered me to
lake my Mjuadron to support Captain Porter, who, with his squadron. Companies
C and (i (Company C commanded by Lieutenant Hinckley), on the right, was be-
ing hard pre!«od by greatly superior numbers. When I arrived he had been
foni-d l«iok out of the woods to the edge of the field, where he had hastily thrown
«Jp flight works of fence-rails, etc., about two feet high. I soon found this
lH>«.jtiou untenable, and fell back in good order about four o'clock to a new posi-
tion hUmi one hundred and fifty yards to the rear behind a fence and ditch ; the
fence w:is \Aiu'Oi\ on top of the earth thrown from the ditch, which formed a good
breast w«>rk. The reV)s kept up a heavy fire from the woods for a few minutes, then
out cam«' a cloud of skirmishers, followed by a heavy line of battle ; the skirmish-
ers were fnnm ab^orlx-d by the main line ; then with their peculiar yell they charged.
Wo held our fire until they were within fifty feet, then gave them such a terrific

214 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLUEXT OF CAVALRY 1804

fire with carbines and revolvers they could not s;tand it ; they broke and fled pell-
raell for the cover of the woods, our » men dropping many of them on the way.
They opened fire from the woods af:^ain in short order, the shells from our battery
in our rear bursting" in among them. It was a hot spot for us, the shells from
both our own and the reb battery screaming over our heads, and the bullets strik-
ing the fence-rails and now and again a man. After some little time they came
out of the woods and charged again right up to the fence; but the withering fire
our boys gave them compelled them to break for the rear again, notwithstanding
the frantic efforts of their officers, who upbraided them with curses. It was of no
avail ; they kept on to the cover of the woods again. There must have been
more dead and helplessly wounded lying on the ground in our front than there
were in our whole battalion. Their charging line I calculated was at least fifteen
hundred men. A continuous fire was kept up, they at our heads and we at the
smoke in the edge of the woods. " Fire low ! " was the order constantly given to
our men. We were getting short of ammunition, so I sent back for more. None
coming, it looked as if we could not hold our position much longer ; in fact, it did
not seem possible that any one could get up to us from the rear, as they would'
have to come over an open field a quarter of a mile down a slight incline, in full
view of the enemy's lines. Sergeant L. P. Norton, of ray Company L, came to me
for more ammunition for his part of the line. I stated the case to him that I did
not think any one could get to us alive. Ho said, " Captain, I know it's risky, but
I'll chance it." Ho soon returned with a supply and distributed it along the line
safely. He had a narrow escape ; a bullet spoiled his hat (he has the same hat
yet), one went through his coat-sleeve and coat between his side and arm : three
or four other bullet-holes through his clothing, and one through his canteen.
The rebels tried their best to kill him, for they could see him with the box, and
knew just what he was bringing up.

Sergeant Harlan P. Thompson, of Company A, whom I had posted on my
extreme left in an important and exposed position, being just at this time shot
down severely wounded, I immediately rewarded Sergeant Norton for his gal-
lantry by posting him in Sergennt Thompson's place. By the conformation of the
ground it was necessary for a man to stand up behind a gate-post on the left, in order
to see the rest of the regimental line. About six o'clock Sergeant Norton reported
the Regiment falling back, exposing my left, and 1 noticed the Regiment on my
right falling back closely pursued. At the same time the rebels were advancing
with three lines to the charge again. We gave them a volley, as they reached the
fence, right in their faces. I then ordered my men to get back as fast as they
could, and I set the example (I will state that no one passed me the first three hun-
dred yards or so to the top of the rise, where we came to another strip of wood
and a log-house). Colonel Huev, P2iglith Pennsylvania, was posted therewith a
few men behind some rails and logs. He ordered me to halt my men and form
with him, saying, " we could hold the enemy." ! called his attention to a column
passing his right. He said they were our men. I told him they were rebs, and that
he was flanked on his left, too. I took my men back. It was the last I saw of
Colonel Huey. He and his men were captured in less than five minutes. The
country was partly wooded and jiartly open. The rebs ran their battery right on
their skirmish-line. As Lieutenant Perry, comnianding Company A, and I were
hurrying along together, still on foot (our led horses had been sent back out of

1864 GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY HON. E. M. TUTON. 215

sight) a cannon-ball took off a man's head a few feet ahead of us. He jumped up
about four feet and fell near us. I said to Lieutenant Perry, " Walt., go through
his pockets." He replied, '* I ain't got time." Some distance farther on we came
to a line the staff-officei-s had formed. We passed through this, say half a mile or
so, then formed another line. Soon the line we had passed came running through
us; and so the retreat was kept up, running and fighting, till after dark, a distance
of about six miles, when the Johnnies stopped chasing us. Our men were com-
pletely exhausted and lay down on the ground near the Charles City Court-House
as fast as they came in. Some died from heat and over-exertion during the night.
I myself was doctored nearly all night. We realized for the first time how it felt
to get a good sound thrashing and then be chased for our lives, somewhat as we
had se^^*e<l the rebs at Trevillian Station two weeks before. The division lost
heavily in killed and wounded, among the number Colonel J. Irvin Gregg, com-
manding St-cond Brigade, wounded ; Colonel Covode, Fourth Pennsylvania, killed ;
Captain Phillips, division staff, leg shot off (died) ; Colonel Huey, Eighth Penn-
sylvania, taken prisoner. In our regiment, Captain Page, Company M, killed ; Cap-
tain Porter. Company G, captured; Hospital Steward John E. Cowles, wounded
in hand; Sergeant Harlan P. Thompson, Company A, severely wounded; Cor-
poral C. H. Homer, Company L, severely wounded and prisoner (died); Private
James M. IJaeon, Company L, wounded by grape-shot. Sheridan with the First
Division came up during the Qight. The next morning we marched unmolested
to Wilc>~»x's Landing, on the James River. Captain B. B. Porter, of Company G,
who commanded the First Squadron in the fight and was captured in the final
charge, is with me while I am writing this, and says that the rebel officers told him
that Sheridan had sent orders to Gregg to fall back at one o'clock, before the fight
commenced, but that they had captured the bearer, thus finding out that Gregg
was alone with his two brigades. The request forwarded by General Gregg to
Ocuenil Sheridan for orders was also captured, so they, having eight brigades,
told Captain Porter they intended to capture General Gregg and his whole com-
mand. Instead of capturing us, they only succeeded in forcing us back after a
terrific battle lasting about five hours and only captured eleven officers and one
hundred and seven men besides our severely wounded. Their wounded. Captain
Porter informs me, was greater in number than the whole of our two brigades
op|>nseti to them. He says one of our shells struck down eight men near him,
killing four of them instantly. •

lion. E. M. Tuton, formerly of Company E, gives the following
graphic description of this battle :

On the night of the 23d of June, 18G4, our brigade camped at or near Balti-
more Cros«-roads, on the road from White House over to the James River, my
s<|u.adrfm. Companies E and K, doing picket duty at or near the cross-roads and
vicinity ; some of the men of our picket reserve while coming from a house in the
rear with w»ater, in the dusk of the evening, being captured by the enemy, who
were in our rear and inside of our pickets. Sergeant Morse, of Company K, while
returning', and within a few rods of the reserve, was met by a Johnny, who poked
a carbine within a foot of his face, demanding an unconditional surrender. Morse
not l>eing roady to comply with his request, leaned over on his horse's neck, out of

21G HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

range of the Johnny's firelock, put spurs to his steed with a vicious dig, and soon"
landed in the reserve in a somewhat excited state of raind.

We soon had no reserve, as every .man was pot-hunting for a Johnny in the
brush, but without success. However, they were unable to take their prisoners with
them, they coming in one by one in the bright light of the morning, minus arms,
clothing, money, watches, etc., which they were forced to contribute to the pro-
motion of the Confederate cause. Few of our pickets or reserves got any sleep
that night.

About 8 A. M. on the morning of the 24th we pulled out, and after some three
or four hours' marching in a southerly direction we turned to the right and
marched west perhaps a couple of miles, some of the boys claiming we had flanked
the John.iies and were going right into Richmond by the side-door. The Regiment
was here halted and turned to the left into an open field. The Johnnies had just
left their fires, which were still burning, some of their cooking utensils being
scattered about in dire confusion.

Companies F, M, G, and H were dismounted and sent down into the woods
in our front as skirmishers, while our squadron did mounted skirmish duty in the
open field. This field was flanked on the left by a dense strip of woods, while the
left of our line of mounted skirmishers were close up to the woods, and we could
distinctly hear the Johnnies knocking about in the brush, getting ready to make
some of us fit subjects for a funeral. Lieutenant Van Tuyl rode down to our left
to investigate and see how many there were of them, and while peering into the
woods one of them fired at him at point-blank range, fortunately not hitting him.
We then received peremptory orders to dismount and drive them out, which we
did without any loss to us, and, so far as I could see, none to them.

After clearing this strip of woods we were ordered down to the front line, and
on arriving at the edge of the wood at the lower end of the field were halted and
ordered to tear down the rail fence and build temporary breastworks, which we
did, they serving as a protection from the bullets of the enemy as they advanced
on our front through the woods an hour later.

We were on the extreme left of our line, the fence spoken of extending into
the woods on our left flank, and, to use a military expression, our left flank was
in the air. my company being in the corner of the field, with woods to our front,
left, and left rear. About 3 p. m. a spattering fire commenced down on the
right and ran along up our line to our front, where could be seen the Johnnies
dodging from tree to tree and advancing upon us. By this time the rattle of our
carbines and the yells of the rebs as they came for us extended to our right for a
quarter of a mile or more. But in our immediate front they did not get nearer
than five or six rods of us, we driving them back by the fire of our revolvers after
giving them all we had in our carbines.

After the demonstration on the part of the Johnnies they fell back out of the
range of our fire, and there was a lull in the firing along our line, except now and
then an occasional shot from them at some of our boys who ventured out in front
to inventory the number of killed and wounded of the rebels. We spent about
half an hour in this manner, adding to the strength of our line and discussing the
situation, when on our right was heard the " Ili-yi-yi" of the rcJjs as they again
advanced upon us, and it did seem as though we could not stop them, they coming
up within twenty feet of where we lay behind the rails. But, the reception they

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HON. E. M. TUTON, 1890. E. M. TUTON. RECRUIT, i863.

1864 GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY HON. E. M. TUTON. 217

met with being warmer than they anticipated (our boys being all at home), they
left without as much as saying good-by. During that little fracas the writer of
this was struck by a minie-ball in the left breast and knocked out of the fight for
some five minutes, and the query was where it had gone, the hole where it entered
being about one inch to the left of the buttons over the breast. But there was
no time for further investigation. I still lived, and things were getting lively —
the rel)s were coming again, and to our surprise bayonets were in our front, and,
while we worked our carbines and revolvers for all there was in them, we could
not stop their onward course. My carbine got so hot that it went off as I drew
the lever-block up to its place in the breech. On casting my eye along the fence
that extendeil through the woods to our left, I was almost paralyzed to see about
a dozen rebs on our left, and on our side of the fence, some four or five rods away,
while us far as 1 could see along the fence to our left in the woods they were com-
ing over like so many sheep. Discharging my carbine at random in the crowd,
and yelling to our boys to "get out of this/' I started in a diagonal course back
across the clearing at a pace none of our boys equaled, followed by a shower of
bullets that ju.^t made my hair stand on end. I had got back to our right and
rear some six or eight rods, in the open field, near to a second growth of pine-
trees, when an olficer galloped toward us as if intent on checking the break in
our line, which was now fast giving way. As he came under the pine-tree, his
hor^» being on a stiff run, a shell from a reb battery struck the top of the tree,
exploded, and down went horse and rider, torn to pieces by that shell, killing the
horse and taking off the leg of the officer, who died before they got him from the
field, lie proved to be Captain Phillips, First Maine Cavalry. I saw an orderly
carrying Captain Phillips's leg as we left the field some time afterward.

All along our front the line was crumbling away, soldiers falling back, assist-
ing their wounded comrades to places of safety ;'officers and orderlies dashing
hither and yon, swearing, cheering, striving to make the men stand up and face
that terrible front and flank fire. But back we went to the brow of the ridge on
which our artillery was posted — four or six pieces, I can not now tell which. But
the way those artillery boys fed it to the rebs coming up on their left flank in the
field and wckxIs was terrific. The guns were discharged as fast as a man could
count, douVtle-shotted with canister, at a range not to exceed two hundred yards
in the farthost place, the muzzles of the pieces depressed so that the case-shot
struck the ground or trees in front of the advancing line, causing the timber and
bnish to V>ond atid reel as though struck by a cyclone. The shrieks of the rebels
when struck, followed by the cheers of our men who witnessed the work of those
guns, rose alx>ve the din and roar of the artillery, and to us, who were striving so
hard to live to fight another day, it was indeed cheering. I stood there a mo-
ment while the air was full of bullets, unconscious of danger, watching those
aijtillerymen do their work. And they did it in grand style, while horses, riders,
and gunners went down under that terrible concentration of fire that was turned
upon that kittory ; but they could not maintain their position. Some forty or
fifty of us. under the leadership of an officer I did not know, protected the left
flank of the battery by lying down behind a garden fence and keeping the rebs
back on the other side of the garden until the battery limbered up and dashed to
the rear down the incline out of range. We also limbered to the rear ; and had we
not done so, the chances are we would have been there yet. So back we went —

218 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1864

troopers looking for their horses, pack-mules braying for water, shells dropping
here and there, coming where from#no one seemed to know — back to the field
hospital, where it was a scramble to get such of our wounded as could be moved
upon horses back out of danger. It was here that I assisted comrade Daniels, of
Company G, to mount a horse, he having been severely wounded in the hip, and
his brother succeeded in getting him safely from the field. Near here we overtook
our horses making to the rear in charge of our No. 4's men, and, mounting my
charger, I felt that Richard was himself again.

Still back we went. The sun had set and dusk was falling fast. About eight
or nine o'clock that night some ten or fifteen of us went into an oat-field, and,
tying my horse to a rail I had taken from a fence, I lay down, with the rail for a
pillow, utterly exhausted, where I remained unconscious of the surroundings until
early daybreak the next morning, when I was aroused by a perfect babel of shouts,
calling to the members of various regiments who were just coming in : " Tenth New
York, this way; Sixth Ohio, over there ; First Maine, here ; First Massachusetts,
yonder ; Fii-st Jersey, other side," and so on down until nearly every regiment in
the division was named and its location pointed out.

After partaking of some hot coffee and hard-tack, supplemented with a smoke
of some Old Virginia leaf, I began to feel the sense of demoralization passing
away, and set about taking an account of stock. I still possessed my horse, arms,
and accoutrements, and in addition I found the ball that struck me the day be-
fore. On entering the service I toek with me two old-fashioned daguerreotypes
in cases, the picture of one on glass, the other on sheet-iron. For safe keeping I
had wrapped them in two folds of the cloth of an army overcoat, securely tied
with strong twine, and carried them in the inside pocket of my cavalry jacket.
The ball having struck just over them, going through cloth, cases, and glass, im-
bedded itself in the sheet-iron of the inside picture. At this day I consider it the
best investment I ever made in life insurance, and am the proud possessor of that
ball and the remains of those pictures. I have no record of the losses of our regi-
ment, but they were heavy, among the killed being Captain Page, of Company M.
As we fell back from our first line, which we did in confusion, I noticed an officer
of the First Maine Cavalry cheering and encouraging his men, and right well did
they respond. While only a private, and a young one at that, yet I knew a Buck-
eye man from a Pine-tree fellow, also the difference between a P. V. and a Ny
Yarker." . ,. *

Lieutenant James Matthews, of Company M, writing of the St.
Mary's fight, says :

I was detailed to take charge of the horses that day, as I had a boil on one of
my eyes, which nearlv made me blind. The men fought dismounted. We were
attacked by a large force of cavalry and infantry, and were badly routed. The
shells flew thick and fast, and so did the men. It was ** every man for himself
and the devil take the hindermost." One of General Gregg's aides told me to
mount every man 1 saw, regardless of regiment " or previous condition." It was
an extremely busy night. The tide set in for Charles City Court-House, without
the least semblance of order. When we arrived at the Court-House it was burn-
ing, and a bvibel of voices were calling for this regiment and that. They stum-

1864 ACCOUNT BY LIEUTENANT DAVID FLETCHER. 219

bled and rode about, searching for lost comrades and companies. Notwithstand-
ing the confusion, some little headway was made, so that early in tlie morning I
had quite a s(iuad of Tenth boys gathered together, but hardly a man was astride
the horse that belonged, to him. They appropriated everything found in the
haversacks or overcoats. It was amusing to hear the expressions made by the
real owners when they found their horses, later on, minus sundry personal arti-
cles.

We got pretty well straightened out the next day. Colonel Avery was out
till late. It was thought that he was killed or captured, but he and Captain Weir
finp,lly came in together. I was greatly disheartened the night of the 24th, think-
ing the entire regiment was killed or captured. Captain Page and private Phil-
lips, of my company, were killed in the early part of the fight.

Lieutenant (afterward Captain) David PI etcher describes the battle
in these words :

On the return of General Sheridan with his command from Trevilllan Station
to White House Landing, he found that the rebel cavalry, which had been moving
almost parallel with him on his right flank, had reached that point in advance of
him, and from the hills, about a mile away on the Richmond road, were shelling
the large wagon-train which was parked about the landing and the one regiment
of infantry left there to guard the place. A gunboat, which was lying in the York
River came to the rescue, and by a few well-directed shots from one of her guns —
one of which played sad havoc with the enemy's artillery, blowing up a caisson and
killing several horses — held the enemy back, while the frightened and ahnost panic-
stricken train-men crossed the river on a dilapidated old bridge. Several mule-
teams with their wagons became unmanageable on the bridge and went off into
the river. General Sheridan, on leaniing of the situation at the landing, ordered
Gregg's division forward. Reaching a point opposite the landing, after crossing,
we camped for the day in the woods. When darkness came, Davies's brigade was
taken across the river on the old bridge, the m.en breaking step on account of
weakness of the bridge. On reaching the south side the command was formed in
line of battle, a short distance out from the landing, where we hurriedly threw up
breastworks in anticipation of a night attack ; but none was made, and we rested
quietly on our arms until morning. After resting at the landing for a day or two,
General Sheridan started with the command and the large wagon-train for the
James River. The First Division accompanied the train, while Gregg's division
moved out on the Richmond road to guard the right flank. Reaching a point
near St. 3Iary's Church, General Davies's brigade came upon the enemy on a road
leading from Charles City Cro^s-roads toward Richmond. The figlit was soon on,
and the Tenth New York got the familiar order, " Prepare to fight on foot," and went
into position on the left of the road, the right resting on the road in the woods
with a small stream in its front. Colonel Avery detailed me as aide to him on this
occasion, and instructed me to iielp form the line and then report the situation to
him at once, saying he would send my horse down to the edge of the woods for me.
While forming the line in the woods along the stream, Anthony Astil, of Company
P, was hit by a minie-ball in his right knee, causing a wound which necessitated
the amputation of his leg, and from which he died in a few days. I sent him back
to the ambulance on my horse, which was at the skirts of the woods, and reported

220 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

to the Colonel on foot. There was a rail-fence near our line, and by direction
of Colonel Avery I had the Pioneer Qorps throw the fence into piles, so as to
form a sort of breastwork on which the Regiment could rally in case they were
forced to retreat. The battery went into position on a knoll a short distance in
the rear of the line and to the ri^^ht of the road. The First New Jersey Cavalry
was Just going into position on our left, when the rebs succeeded in pushing their
line forward across the stream, and turned Captain Page's flank, lie being the
oflBcer in command of the left, thus enabling them to sweep the left of our line,
which they did with telling effect. Harris Daniels, of Company K, was shot
through the groin at this point. The fighting was hard alon'g the whole line, and,
from the reb yell that went up as they pressed our lines, it was plainly to be seen
that we were not only outnumbered but outflanked on either side. The Regiment
was forced back out of the woods as were the troops to the right of the road.
Captain Sceva and myself rallied the squadrons of the left of the Regiment at the
rail-piles, and fought the advancing rebs hand to hand, they coming over and into
our temporary works with club muskets. The onslaught of the enemy was so
heavy that we could hold out but a few minutes, and were forced to retreat, leav-
ing five of Company F in the hands of the enemy and several of Company M.
Captain Page was seen to fall a few rods from the rail-piles, and we never heard
of him after. Just as the advancing rebels reached the edge of the woods at the
road and to the right of it, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was supporting
the battery, made a splendid mounted charge against the rebel center to save the
guns they were supporting. The charge was successful, but the Regiment suffered
heavily. The enemy succeeded in advancing to the center of the plantation, but
were again driven back into the woods, thus enabling the led horses, pack-train,
and ambulances to get out of the way for Oregg's infantry, for that is what the
most of us proved to be the remainder of that hot day. The road on which we
retreated was mostly through woods, with now and tlien a small plantation, where
a stand would be made and our pursuers given a warm reception. The cloud of
dust that arose from our column served as a guide for the rebel artillerymen and
enabled them to shell us effectually until darkness came upon the scene. Soon
after, we arrived at Charles City Cross-roads, a distance of eight or ten miles from
where the engagement began, very tired, and with our ranks thinned by the heavy
losses. None of the men of Company F captured in this engagement ever re-
turned to the company. They were starved to death in that horrible place,
Andersonville Prison.

In regard to the death of Captain Page, Lieutenant J. A. Edson
writes :

During the fight, some of the men of Company D had piled up some rails as
a breastwork. I was lying behind the rails near Herman Phillips and John
McQueen, and Captain Page was lying on my left. I was impressed with his re-
cital of his troubles in the Regiment made at this time, as he had never spoken to
me before. While he was still talking to me, the rebels charged and forced us
from our place. Captain Den nison's battery was just in rear of us, doing splendid
work. Some of our men made a stand in defense of the guns, and succeeded in
checking the enemy, but it v>-as only momentary. When the retreat was resumed.
Captain Page had proceeded but a short distance, when he sprang into the air

1864 CROSSED TO THE SOUTH SIDE. 221

and fell to the ground. Phillips stopped to help him, but said he was already
dead, and he therefore hastened on, and, the enemy being close upon us, Page's
body fell into their hands.

At 2 A. M., ou the 26th, the trains commenced moving again, fol-
lowed by the Second Division, the Tenth, forming the rear-guard,
remaining in line by the roadside until 5 A. m., when it marched
to Wilcox's Landing on the James River, where it arrived at twelve
o'clock.

The trains were crossed to the south side of the James River dur-
ing the 20th and 27th, the Tenth following with the Second Cavalry
Division, on the 28th ; and the cavalry was thus reunited to the Army
of the Potomac, with which it was prepared to prosecute the fight to
a finish.

222 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

CHAPTER X.

FALL CAMPAIGN, 1864 — FROM PRINCE
GEORGE COURT-HOUSE TO RETURN FROM
RAID TO WELDON RAILROAD.

FTER crossing the James River, the Tenth
went into camp near Fort Powhatan, on the
afternoon of June 28th, and later was sent to
picket the country below Brandon Church.
But the stay there was of short duration, the
Second Cayahy Division moving down the
Petersburg road next day and night, encamp-
^^ -_ _ "^^^ ing at dayliglit on the 30th at Prince George

~~ Court-IIouse.

Captain Kemper joined the Regiment here on the 2d of July.
Little of importance transpired the first part of the month, so far as
the Tenth was concerned. Some picketing, an occasional skirmish,
and frequent changes of camp, were the varying features of this hot
month. A skirmish of several hours' duration occurred at Lee's Mills,
on the 12th, with no serious results. Dust on the march, flies in
camp, and very warm wxather prevailed, until the 19th, when the
welcome rain brought joy and comfort to the licarts of all.

" Boots and Saddles " at 1.30 p. m., on the 2Gth, brought the Regi-
ment out, and after standing to horse until six o'clock, the command
started out on the City Point road. Crossing the Appomattox at
Point of Rocks, it moved to Jones Neck, where it arrived, with the
rest of the. brigade, at daybreak on the 27th, and, crossing the
James River at noon, went into bivouac.

Moving out at 9 a. m. the next morning, the Tenth came upon
the enemy on the Charles City road at ten o'clock, and commenced
skirmishing. The enemy presented a strong front, with infantry and
cavalry. The fight soon became active and determined, and the bri-
gade was compelled to abandon its position, losing one gum Captain
Blynn, with one squadron, was cut oil, but rejoined the Regiment in

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18W SKIRMISH AT LEE'S MILLS. 223

8*afety after dark. The Second Corps came up, and the cavalry moved
back to the phice occupied the ni^ht before and encamped.

On the nioruin,!; of July 29th, the Tenth dismounted and prepared
to fight on foot ; tlien, moving to the right of the lin§, took its place
as support to tlie battery wlicre it remained a short time. At noon
the Second and Tenth Corps came into position on the left of the
Second Cuvahy Division. The Tenth threw up some light breast-
works, behind which it remained until midnight, when it recrossed
the James again, with the Second Cavalry Division, moving quite
rapidly toward the Appomattox. At sunrise on the 30th the com-
mand crossed at Point of Eocks, and, marching past General Meade's
headquarter^, arrived at Lee's JMills, on the Blackwater, at 3 P. m., the
Tenth in advance. Lieutenant Hinckley, of Company C, attacked
the enemy at the bridge, and in a few moments the entire Eegiment
was engaged. The First Massachusetts Cavalry got on the enemy's
flank, while the Second Pennsylvania, Sixth Ohio, and Tenth charged
dismounted, capturing the bridge and taking some prisoners. After
repairing the bridge the First New Jersey cliarged across, mounted,
and took more prisoners.

The Tenth moved to near Sinai Church at 3 A. m. on the 31st,
tired, sleepy, at id worn out. Captain Vanderbilt, with one hundred
men from the First iS'ew Jersey Cavalry, and the same number from
the Tenth, went on picket on the Jerusalem plank-road at 5 p. m.,
on the 4th of August, and on the Gth the New Jersey men were re-
lieved by Lieutenant Charley Pratt's squadron.

On the Tth (ieneral Sheridan was assigned to the command of the
army in tlie Slienandoah Valley, and took'with him the Sixth Army
Corps and the First and Third divisions of Cavalry, leaving the
reliable old Second Division, under General Gregg, with the Army of
the Potomac, where it did its full share in the flanking movements
and liard service in the interim between the departure and return of
the two divisions named.

Colonel Avery was assigned to duty on general court-martial on
the 7th, when Captain Vanderbilt took commaTid of the Regiment, and
Captain Preston of the Second Squadron. Kautz's cavalry relieved the
Tenth on picket on the 12th, and next day, at 4 p. m., the Regiment
moved out with tlie brigade to the Appomattox River again, and
crossing at Point of Rocks, at 9 p. m., halted for a brief time at Jones
Neck. Then crossing the James River before daylight on the l-lth,
the Regiment advanced on the Charles City roadto nearly the same
position it liad occupied on the 28th of the previous month. The

22i HISTOliY OF THE TE^'Tll REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

skirmishing became very brisk by 10 A. M., the Second and Tenth
Corps coming up on the left of t^ie cavalry. The Regiment was sent
on picket at night. It was dark and rainy, and the infantry was
found after mii^h iioundering and marching about in the gloom, and
the picket-line established to connect with them. In the march
through the forest a pack-train from one of the regiments of the bri-
gade cut into the column just in front of Captain Preston's squadron,
unnoticed in the darkness. After a long, sleepy march the head of
column — i. e., a dozen heavily laden mules — issued into an open field,
where the crimp-fires were blazing with a brightness betokening late
attention. It was the enemy's camp, and had been but recently aban-
doned ; perhaps occasioned by the advance of the mule brigade !
Captain Preston at once called a halt, and realizing the awkward
position ho was in, hastily countermarched and started on the return.
On the marcli the road was lost, and the mules, cavalry-men, cracker-
boxes, and profanity became badly mixed in the underbrush ; but the
road and friends were found about the same time. When the front
end of the Regiment halted the tail end didn't halt, because it wasn't
there ; so ^lajor Avery sent out an exploring expedition, which met
the still wngging tail, at the time it had just found the road, and
together the united forces marched to the picket reserve of the Regi-
ment.

Skirmishing commenced promptly with the advent of daylight on
the 15th, and increased with the hours. It proved to be a bang-up
day for the fighting business. After a time the Regiment was with-
drawn to the right and rear of the infantry and a squadron was sent
on a reconnaissance. Captain Vanderbilt was detailed, with his squad-
ron, for duty with General F.irney, commanding the Tenth Corps.
While piloting some of the colored troops through the woods, they
fired into troops from the Second Corps, mistaking them for the
enemy; the Second Corps men in turn charged the colored boys.
Many were killed and wounded on both sides, before the error was
discovered. Again the fighting was on with the rising of the sun on
the IGth. Tlie Tenth supported a battery in the forenoon, and in the
afternoon moved to the left to assist the Second Brigade, which had
been heavily engaged, and whose commander. Colonel Gregg, had
been wounded during the day.

An occasional picket-shot was the only reminder that the enemy
was in front on the morning of the 17th. Later in the day a flag of
truce appeared on the picket-line in front of the Tenth, and Major
Avery and Captain Vanderbilt went out to meet the bearer, who pre-

^jj^ DEATH OF GENERAL CHAMBLISS. 225

sented a letter to General Gregg in regard to the remains of General
Chainbliss, killed in front of ,the Tenth while leading a charge the
day before. The flag was displayed, and courtesies bearing upon the
same subject extended three times during the day. The presence of
General Gre^-g at the time of General Chambliss's death, and his rec-
ognition of an ante-Mlum friend in the dead officer, gave rise to
gome discussion of the relations existing between them. It was said
they were classmates at the Military Academy at West Point, but this
is corrected in a letter from General Gregg, in which he says :

General J. R. Chambliss, who was killed in the engagement we had with the
enemy's cavalry at Deep Bottom, in August, 1864, was not my classmate at West
Point', ho havinjr graduated in 1853 and I in 1855. We served together as cadets
at the Acadeniy for two years, so that I knew him very well. He was rallying
his n-ar-guard when he fell. When we reached his body I was present and recog-
nlzetl him. A Bible containing his name and a request that, should his body fall
into the hands of a friend, certain dispositions were to be made, was found in his
poc'kct. A silver cup and some articles of jewelry were recovered from his body
an»l were sent to his widow. I sent the body to General Hancock's headquarters,
and by him it was sent through the lines without any particular formalities that
1 reinemtxT. . . .

Captain Vanderbilt's diary for the 18th says :

Showery in morning and heavy rain at noon. S6nt to support detachment of
Sixth Oliio in the woods. Quiet until 5 p. M., when the rebs signaled our boys
with a handkerchief from their battery in the road, on a hill, to look out, which
was immediately followed by solid shot and shrapnel. Captain Blynn had just
Tacated a position Ijchind a pine-tree when a solid shot penetrated it about waist-
high. After alxjut half an hour's shelling, the qnemy advanced in force through the
w<km1s to .scare us away. The boys remained behind the rails and light breast-
works jKTfeotly cool, while the officers ordered them to hold their fire until the
command was given. When the enemy had got near enough the order to " fire ! "
was given, and such a banging, screeching, yelling, hurrahing, and general hub-
bub 1 never heard ; all joined in the familiar chorus of " Give 'em 'ell ! " After they
got back and found they were not all dead, they came up on a run and cheer
again, and we let them get up a little nearer than before, and then we repeated the
Siime ta<?tics. They appeared to have forgotten something and went back for it in
a hurry! They didn't come up again. We were re-enforced by the Sixth Ohio,
and at dark the Fourth Pennsylvania relieved our Regiment.

Major Avery was rendered liors de combat by a boil on his neck,
and retired to hospital on the 19th, leaving Captain Vanderbilt in
command of the Kegiment.

Recrossing the James River at sundown and the Appomattox at
Point of Kocks about ten o'clock, the Regiment reached General
Meade's headquarters, and the men received rations and remained

22C HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

there all night in the mist and mud; then on the march again at
daylight on the 20th to the Jerusalem plank-road, where it took posi-
tion in rear of the Fifth Corps, near the Gurley house, in a heavy
rain. At 3 A. M. next day the Kegimeut advanced on the Weldon
Railroad toward Ream's Station, where it arrived with the rest of the
Second Division.

The enemy striking our infantry on the left, the brigade, except
one battalion of the Tenth, was dismounted and drove the Confeder-
ates back. At 2 P. M. the Tenth was ordered to report to Colonel
Spear, commanding a brigade in Kautz's cavalry division, and moved
with that brigade to Ream's Station and burned tanks and other rail-
road property, after which it returned to its proper command. The
Regiment was paid during the night by Major Dyer, and then at
noon on the 23d of August moved out to Ream's Station late in the
afternoon, where the cavalry had been attacked. Under direction of
Assistant Adjutant- General Weir, Captain Vanderbilt dismounted the
Regiment and charged the Confederates in the woods, driving them
out and from a strong position on a hill. Captain Vanderbilt led the
charge, which called forth compliments from the division commander.
Captain Blynn with fifty men went on a reconnaissance to the right
on the 25th, and returned at 8 A. M. with one prisoner from Cobb's
Legion. The boys were in line most of the night prepared for action.
In the afternoon the Regiment moved out and commenced skirmish-
ing. Companies H and L charged the Confederate line, but failed to
dislodge them. A refugee named Barton Slaytor came into our lines
with his young child on the 28th and remained with the boys dur-
ing the day and night. Colonel Avery assumed command of the
Regiment again on the 29th. Seventy more recruits for the Tenth
arrived on the 30th. Captain Vanderbilt was tendered the position
of Acting Assistant Inspector-General of the brigade on the 31st, but
declined.

Companies B, C, D, and G left for General W^arren's headquar-
ters on the 3d of September for special service with the Fifth Corps,
returning to the Regiment on the 11th.

Mr. Nilan, the newly elected sutler, arrived on the 15th, with a
large stock of goods.

September 16th Hampton's division of Confederate cavalry gained
the rear of the Army of the Potomac, and run off a large number of
beeves. The Tenth was hurried out at 7 a. m., and went with the
brigade down the the Jerusalem plank-road to the Nottoway River.
Here Captain Blynn's squadron was assigned as support to the bat-

1864 POPLAR SPRINGS CHURCH, OR VAUGHN ROAD. 227

tery. The boys stood to horse nearly all night. While here Lieuten-
ant Charley Pratt's squadron was attacked by flying artillery. A
road upon which his detachment was doing picket duty ran through
a wood. The outpost reported hearing the rumbling of artillery-
wheels coming up the road in the darkness. The challenge was
promptly given, but was unheeded. A second command to halt re-
ceiving no response, the man on picket discharged his carbine in the
direction of the approaching artillery, and, putting spurs to his horse,
shouted for the reserve to turn out, as the rebel artillery was coming.
Lieutenant Pratt, while getting his men into position, sent word to
Colonel Avery that the rebel artillery was approaching, and to pre-
pare the Regiment for action ! The Lieutenant then commenced a
cautious investigation, which resulted in the discovery that the flying
artillery consisted of an old cart, hauled by an emaciated team of
mules, the ammunition being a load of happy contrabands bound for
the land of freedom !

On Saturday, the 17th, the division marched back and encamped.

Assistant-Surgeon Sickler, who was left in charge of the wounded
at Trevillian, was exchanged, and joined the Regiment on the 19th.

Special Order Xo. 254, Army of the Potomac, dated September 20,
18G4, ordered Major M. H. Avery, Lieutenant James Matthews, and
Sergeants Sihis Metcalf, George H. Stevens, G. W. Davis, John P.
White, X. W. Torrey, and John A. Freer to New York on recruiting
service. This detachment departed on the 23d, leaving Captain Van-
derbilt in command of the Regiment.

Rations were issued to the Tenth on the evening of the 28th, and
every preparation made for a move. At 2 A. M. of the 29th the Sec-
ond Division marched up the Vaughn road, halting at 3 A. 3i. near
the Perkins house. When near Ream's Station, the Tenth was
drawn up dismounted, on the left of the Weldon Railroad, and ad-
vanced about a mile, skirmishing, and then threw up light breast-
works and made slashings in front. This was about 1 P. M. At 5
p. M. the line was advanced, driving the enemy. The Second Brigade,
on the left of the line, had a sliarp engagement. At ten o'clock the
Regiment fell back to near the Wyatt house, where the horses had
been left, and bivouacked. Captain Vanderbilt was taken very sick,
and turned over the command of the Regiment to Captain Snyder.

A little skirmishing occurred on the 30th, in which the Tenth as
usual bore its share, driving the enemy some distance, and at 11 p. M.
bivouacked in the breastworks.

Saturday, October 1st, the Tenth moved to the right and made

228 niSTOIlY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

connection with the infantry, then back to near the Davis house and
formed in line. At ten o'clock the order to " prepare to fight on foot "
came, and the Regiment advanced skirmishing, and drove the enemy
some distance. From this till four o'clock the fight continued, with
varying fortune. Tlie attack of the enemy was at first repulsed and
they were driven back to their works, in charging which our line was
repulsed ; then, massing on the right of the Regiment, they charged
in heavy force, and compelled a retirement after a hot contest. Fol-
lowing up their success, they charged the line again, driving it
from its first position, but were repulsed in the attempt to carry
the second. The men never displayed better fighting qualities than
here. Taking the offensive, the Tenth charged and regained the
first line, but afterward voluntarily relinquished it, and took position
behind tlie second line, where they were cliarged in front and flank
by superior numbers, but by stubborn fighting the enemy were again
repulsed. A hard rain prevailed during the entire day, and the men
were wet, cold, and hungry when they went into bivouac about ten
o'clock. In this fight, known as Poplar Springs Church, or Vaughn
road, the Regiment lost quite heavily in killed, wounded, and miss-
ing. Sergeant Bela Burzette, of Company B, who was acting as
sergeant-major at the time, was instantly killed. Captain Snyder,
Lieutenant Van Tuyl, and Sergeant IN". A. Reynolds were wounded.

Of this engagement. Captain (afterward Major) James M. Rey-
nolds writes :

The battle of Vaughn's Road, fought September 30 and October 1, 1864, by
the First Brigade of Gregg's division, seems to be my pet fight ; but in recalling
it many others come " front into line," demanding equal recognition.

On September 30th our brigade received orders to proceed to the Jerusalem
plank-road and join our troops, which were to advance and form the left of our
army at that point. On nearing the locality late in the day we were satisfied from
the sound of battle on our right that the army had failed to advance as antici-
pated. General Davies took position on the border of a belt of timber, flanking
the road at right angles, ordering the brigade to throw up a line of works (work
we had tirt'd of from lack of use). Just before dusk the General detailed the
Tenth New York and a squadron of the Sixth Ohio to accompany him to the
plank-road, about two miles distant. The darkness soon became so great the en-
tire escort was obliged to dismount. Proceeding through the dense forest with
its obscure little road, guided by the reflected light of camp-fires ahead of us,
which from the space illuminated betokened an innumerable host either of friend
or foe, our mission was to solve the problem. Which? Arriving at the plank-
road wo found we were just through the timber, on the outskirt of an army whose
camp-fires lit up a vast plain. We were sheltered by a darkness so dense we could
only tell each other by our voices and sense of feeling. The picture spread out

1864 CAPTAIN JAMES M. REYNOLDS'S ACCOUNT. 229

before us, with the columns of troops marching through the lines of camp-fires
was one so weird and striking as never to be forgotten and not often our province
to behold. We could hear a large bod^ of mounted troops moving on the plank-
road toward us. The General ordered the Tenth New York to cover the road
on which we had advanced, the Ohio squadron to cover the plank-road. " Halt
the advancing column; if the enemy, give them a volley." They were so
unsuspecting of our presence, they had no advance-guard out, but were chatting
and joking with the prospect of a camp-fire of their own. The captain of the
Sixth Ohio * halted them with the usual formalities, they answering " Friend ! ''
when he ordered " Dismount one and advance with the countersign," which was

obeyed by Captain , adjutant-general on General Granger's staff. This was

percussion to our captain, who made a bodily capture of that particular staff-
officer, ordering " Fire I " which was responded to on the instant in such a man-
ner as to send the column flying down the road in one grand mix-up. I can hear
the clatter of hoofs and sabers yet in their stampede. It was thrilling to us, but
one of the grim jokes of war to them. We were happy to grope our way back,
illuminated by the sulphurous atmosphere emanating from our prize captain's
conversation. Next morning the brigade made a reconnaissance to our right,
when the heavy firing soon told us our army had not reached the plank-road. We
returned to our position of the day before. The boys '* falling to " without urging.
soon had (for cavalry) quite a respectable line of works. The General, taking a
staff-ofl&cer, started out up the road in our front to make a reconnaissance on his
own account. Arriving where the road was flanked on either side by marsh, we
received a volley that was a full volume of revelation, putting every man on the
" ready " behind our works ; and none too soon, for immediately they were at us
with a savage determination that seemed irresistible. It looked as if by their
very numbers they would break through our line and gather us up ; but our little
brigade was not only full of fire, but rolled one into the enemy with both carbine
and pistol that commanded and received respect. On a greater portion of the
line the butts of carbines were freely used to cool the ardor of our foes. " It was
a glorious sight to him who had no friend or brother there." Soon the field be-
came enveloped in one dense cloud of smoke, and only from the continuous rattle
of our arras and the spirit within us could we tell that our little band would pre-
vail. It was fully an hour before the fierceness of battle ceased, when the enemy
withdrew for a renewal. They knew we were isolated and unsupported, so were
bent upon our capture. Having made them doubly mad by the usage of the night
before and the repulse of their first attack we knew what to expect. In the lull
we lined our works with ammunition and planted a "light twelve" in the road
on the flank of the old Tenth, which spoke louder than words of the General's es-
timate of the Regiment. The rain began to pour in torrents, and with it came
another storm of shot and shell from two batteries. Under cover of this fire the
enemy moved down and formed several lines beyond the marsh-flanked place be-
fore mentioned. Their artillery ceased firing, which seemed to be the signal for
their advance, as the noise of their guns was immediately replaced by their de-
moniacal yells, which were calculated to strike terror to our hearts. On they came
with a mad rush, one staff-oftlcer leading a charge with such vigor that his horse

* I regret being unable to recall the name of the Sixth Ohio captain.

230 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1864

landed him clear over our works, which proved our salvation, the burning ques-
tion of the liour being who should have them. The enemy seemed settled in their
purpose to pre-empt the opposite side 'of them. As we had never had a square
fight beliind works before, we esteemed them too highly to share with a foe, at-
testing it by the fiercest fighting I ever saw done by equal numbers. No pen or
words can picture it or light up a shadow of the facts. Out of the din and rattle
of small-arms, the roaring of cannon, the screaming of shells, out of the fii-e and
smoke, I can still hear the cheering of our men, see our officers riding up and
down the line with hat or saber in hand, calling, "Stand firm!" while on the
other side pleadings, urgings, and curses were interlarded with their bullets as
they tired themselves out charging, rallying, and charging again and again against
our solid wall of fire ; and thus we won the day. One poor " reb," shot through
the head back of the eyes so they both protruded, fell into our works. I saw him
sitting by the fire our boys had kindly built for him. His patient despair so im-
pressed me I record the incident. Try as we will we can not shut out these ter-
rible events from memory. At this distance they suggest the question, not if we
were brothers, but if we were human.

The New York Herald gave a full account of our fight. General Davies is-
sued a general order thanking and complimenting his brigade for their gallant
fighting.* _

Captain W. R. Perry writes :

There was a Confederate officer of high rank killed in front of our Regiment
on the Vaughn road on the 1st of October. His horse jumped the light breast-
work of logs behind which wc were lying. Our position was on a road which ran
through the woods. The Johnnies had driven us back about a quarter of a mile,
and the boys were blazing away at them all along the line. Sergeant N. A.
Reynolds and myself had just dropped behind the logs, when the horse leaped
over us into our works. We held our position there against the most desperate
efforts of the Johnnies to dislodge us, and afterward passed over the ground we
had been driven from. Seventy thousand rounds of ammunition were issued to
our brigade that day, and they used it all to good advantage, too ! It was a very
warm place.

Lieutenant (afterward Captain) David Fletcher, of Company F,

Our cavalry moved out on the Vaughn road ; the infantry marching on the
Black Oak road some distance to our right. Just west of a swamp we reached a
cross-road ; here we stniek the Black Oak road and the infantry. At the same
time we were attacked in the rear by a small force of rebel cavalry, which had
crossed from the west side of the swamp, and followed our column. The brigade
was countermarched, the rebels scampering away before a squadron under com-
mand of a sergeant. On reaching the Vaughn road the rebels turned to the west,
and crossed the swamp by a corduroy road. After passing through the woods, a

* I was doing staff duty at the time and in position to know that the record
the old Tenth made in this fight could not be outdone. — J. M. R.

1864 LIEUTENANT DAVID FLETCHER'S ACCOUNT. 231

small plantation lay on the right, with a strip of woods on the left, while near the
west side of the plantation was an old house. Just beyond the house was a ra-
vine crossing the road, and a little farther on the enemy lay behind intrenchments.
Our skirmishers had passed beyond the house when they encountered a fire from
the earthworks, which wounded several, and caused the line to fall back. As the
brigade came up, the Tenth, under command of Major Snyder, took position in
the woods, to the left of the road. I was ordered to dismount my squadron and
advance, under directions of Adjutant-General Tremain, to dislodge the enemy.
Crossing the swamp I kept my men under cover of the woods, on the left of the
road, until an advanced position was secured ; then, forming them across the road,
we charged on the rebel line. We met with a galling fire from a large force, and
were compelled to fall back behind the buildings, fences, etc. Captain Van Tuyl
with his squadron came to my assistance, and assuming command, extended the
line preparatory to another forward movement, but was wounded, and compelled
to retire from the field. Finally, as the fight developed, the entire Regiment was
put into line, and a squadron of the Sixth Ohio was stationed in a clump of trees
to our right and rear, near the swamp. At this time the Regiment was armed
with three different kinds of carbines, and the difficulty in obtaining ammunition
caused us to rely considerably on our revolvers, which the men were instructed to
use in case we were charged. The rebels had a battery on each flank, and were
mjiking it decidedly uncomfortable for us. Major Snyder was wounded soon
after coming on the line. Then I received orders from General Davies to hold
the line as long as possible, and, when compelled to fall back, to join the First
Massiichusetts, which was intrenching on the east side of the swamp. We held
the place from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m., when, at a given signal, the enemy, with their
familiar yell, charged, their line extending far beyond my flanks. It looked as if
they had expected to cut the Regiment off from the corduroy road and bag it
entire, but after a brief resistance my men fell back. Being crowded upon the
narrow corduroy, the rebels pressed hard upon us, killing and wounding a num-
ber of our boys. After uniting with the First Massachusetts, the enemy were re-
pulsed in three desperate attempts to carry the works. In the third assault an
ofTicer of high rank— a general, I think— led his men gallantly to the attack. He
was killed within a few feet of our line, and his horse leaped our works and disap-
peared in the woods. The enemy having crossed the swamp on our left, our line
was withdrawn to the edge of the woods, where we joined in line with the First
New Jersey, the balance of the brigade in our rear, behind a line of light breast-
works. The rebels, having gained possession of the wood, the fight became very
hot. They finally began falling back, and we were beginning an advance, when
a brigade was discovered coming in upon our left rear. The First New Jersey
and our battery met and drove back this force, however, in short order. We held
the field until after dark, when we fell back to the main line.

Rain commenced falling early, and continued through the day. Taken all
together it was one of the hardest of the many hard days' service of the Regi-
ment.

Next day, about noon, the Regiment was withdrawn from the
works (the enemy having fallen back), and, mounting their horses,
moved to the right and relieved the First Maine on picket. In the

232 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864

evening the Second Brigade moved up, and the Tenth returned to
near the scene of its day's fighting, and went into bivouac.

A. D. Waters, who had formerly been the junior major in the
Tenth, visited camp on the 16th in the capacity of agent for the
State of Xew York in supervising the voting of the soldiers from that
State.

The Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, which had been serving
for some time dismounted, received horses and was assigned to the
First Brigade on the 24th.

The infantry commenced moving toward the left on the 26th,
and at 4 p. m. the Tenth with the rest of the division marched in the
same direction and encamped soon after dark. At early dawn the
movement around the enemy's right flank via the Boydton plank-
road commenced by the Second and Fifth Army Corps and Gregg's
cavalry.

General Humphreys says :

Gregg in the mean time crossed Hatcher's Run, below the infantry, moved
along the Vaughn and then the Quaker road, encountering part of Hampton's
troops, and united with the infantry on the Boydton road soon after they en-
tered it*

And again he says :

... Gregg's cavalry were sharply engaged. . . . The attack on Gregg, Gen-
eral Hancock says, was made by five brigades of Hampton's cavalry and was
pressed vigorously until after dark, but that General Gregg held his own. . . .
General Hancock mentions in high terms the conduct of General Egan, General
Mott, General Gregg, and several other officers.f

The Second Brigade was more seriously engaged than the First,
although the Tenth was pretty actively occupied all day. In the
evening the Regiment was sent out to open and maintain connection
between the two brigades, in the accomplishment of which some brisk
skirmishing ensued. It rained nearly all night, but the morning of
the 28th was pleasant and warm. A little after midnight the cavalry
began falling back, the Tenth bringing up the rear near daylight.

Reaching Prince George Court-House the division went into camp,
the Tenth on picket.

Picketing, inspections, etc., kept the men employed in the vicinity
of Prince George Court-House until the 7th of November, when the

* Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 298.
t Ibid., pp. 302, 303.

■y^

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: ''.^'^ '^^'' "'/-'/■ 'N^\ ^ A .A-|.n"L.

GENERAL GREGG AND STAFF.

1. Captain IlarfH-r. Pnivosit-Marshal. 6. Captain II. C. Weir, Asst. Adjutant-General.

2. A.«sl. Surgfon Tuft. Extt.iuive Medical OtTicer. 7. Major C. Taylor, As!«t. luspector-Geueral.
;i A(«st. Sunreoii .Mai>b, Actiui,' Surji-on-iu-Chicf, 2d Div. 8. Gemral D. MoM. Gregi^.

4. Captain Adaul^. Siu'iial cnlit i-r. 9. Lieutenant Thomas; (iregir. Aide-de-Camp.

5. Captain Charles Treichel. As*t. Com. of Musters. 10. Captain Edward Fobes. Coin, of Subsistence.

16C4 STONY CREEK AGAIN. 233

division went on a reconnaissance to Nottoway Creek, the Tenth hav-
ing the advance. It rained hard all day, and the command returned
to camp at 11 p. m., thoroughly irrigated and irritated.

Colonel Avery returned with the detail from recruiting service in
New York on the 13th, and on the 17th Adjutant Kennedy with
twenty-five men made a reconnaissance about six miles from camp
and returned with two yoke of oxen, one wagon, two carts, a sulky,
two contrabands, and a live goose, reaching camp about 5 p. m.

A detachment from the Kegiment, under command of Lieutenant
Ilartwell, was attacked while on a reconnaissance and lost three men
killed and one captured. The command returned to camp at dark,
bringing in one of the dead. It rained hard on the 19th, 20th, and
21st, and on the 22d the weather turned very cold. General Meade
reviewed the brigade on this day.

Thanksgiving-day, November 24th, Captain Blynn took a small
party out on a reconnaissance, but returned empty-handed, having
encountered neither rebels nor turkeys.

Stony Creek Station w^as the objective point of Gregg's cavalry on
the first day of December. The men felt in the proper state of mind
for a fight at being aroused at two o'clock in the morning and started
olf v/ithout breakfast. There were the usual mumbling and grum-
bling while the boys packed up and led out, but they were finally lost
in the jingle of the sabers and the confusion in getting into line.
The march was via Lee's Mills to the Jerusalem plank-road. Passing
down this road the Tenth with the First Brigade arrived at Stony
Creek Station about noon. The Second Brigade, farther to the left,
had already had severe fighting and had captured quite a large num-
ber of prisoners. At 1 p. m. the Tenth, crossing the railroad, moved
about a mile and established pickets. At 2.30 p. m. it was attacked
by a large force, but held its position until the work of destroying the
railroad had been accomplished. In this a part of the Regiment par-
ticipated. While falling back across the railroad the rear of the
Regiment was attacked, but the battery opening on the rebels, soon
sent them to cover again. The station at Stony Creek with the sur-
rounding buildings was incinerated, together with some Confederate
workshops and commissary stores. A few wagons also fell into the
bands of the captors.

At three o'clock the return march was taken up, and at sunset
the Nottoway River was crossed.

Of the Stony Creek engagement Corporal H. G. Hicks, of Com-
pany L, Writes :

234: HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1804

In the fight at Stony Creek Station, December 1, 1864, Captain W. R. Perry
and his squadron — Companies A and L — took an active part. Perry was sent
with his squadron out on the main road leading to the station from tlic south,
and formed line in a field near where the road forked, and sent out pickets on the
road to the right. After a time these pickets were attacked and what seemed to
be about a brigade of rebel cavalry came out into the field adjoining the one we
occupied, and began forming line of battle. Perry immediately ordered a charge,
and away we went straight for that crowd of rebels, witli the little bald-headed
Captain in the lead. Reaching a high rail fence which separated us from the
enemy, the command was dismounted, unslung carbines and were deployed along
the fence as skirmishers. Wo peppered the enemy good. They appeared stag-
gered by Perry's boldness, and could not get men forward to the fence to throw it
down while we were there. But another force of rebels, coming in on the road to
our left, with the evident intention of cutting us off, compelled a hasty retreat.
I was in the rear, and was caught by the limb of a tree and unhorsed. By the
time I was again in the saddle the rebs were close upon me, calling to me to sur-
render. Of course I declined, and plying the spurs vigorously my horse made a
" spurt," that I believe was seldom, if ever, beaten on Virginia war-time roads.
We reached the station and found the rest of the Regiment, and with the aid of a
couple of field-pieces gave the rebs a warm reception. That was where I came to
grief. I had not fired to exceed two shots, when a rebel bullet struck my left
arm, crushing the bone, and knocking me out for all time to come. The twenty-
mile ride back to camp on horseback that night was a terrible one to me. The
action of Perry, in engaging several thousand rebels witli one small squadron I
thought quite strange at the time, but, in thinking of it afterward, concluded that
the short delay he caused them doubtless gave the rest of the brigade time to
prepare for the action which followed. Captain Walt Perry was a brave officer,
whom I would be pleased to have honored as he deserves.

Captain John J. Van Tuyl says of the Stony Creek Station fight :

Captain T. C. White and I were together at the time he was wounded, at
Stony Creek Station. Three squadrons of our Regiment were picketing three
roads, while the rest were tearing up track, burning station and buildings, etc.,
when one of the squadrons was attacked by a heavy force, and the other squad-
rons were called in. I think I was the ranking officer present. A stand was
made at the cross-roads. Finally, the enemy camo down upon us in overwhelm-
ing numbers; we held our position for some time, but at last were compelled to
give way. When the start was made I noticed White reel on his horse, and knew
he was wounded. I attempted to hold him on his horse, but my own horse bolted,
and reared and plunged, until I found myself surrounded by the rebels, many of
whom had passed me in pursuit of our boys. I suppose they considered me a pris-
oner. I thought I was, anyway ; but, when my horse finally settled down, he
made a break for the woods, which were filled with a dense undergrowth. I could
neither hold nor guide the animal, but clasping my arms about his neck stuck to
him like a leech. The limbs and brush nearly tore the clothing off me. but the
horse brought me safely out right at General Davies's headquarters. The General
remarked that I looked scared. I told him I was.

18G4 ENGAGEMENT AT THREE CHEEKS. 235

The Tenth moved back at 3 P. m., crossed the Nottoway River at
sunset, and established a line of, pickets on nearly the former grounds,
on the Lee's Mills road. The following day, at 2 P. ii., the Eighth
Pennsylvania relieved the Regiment on the picket-line, and it re-
turned to camp.

Wednesday, December 7th, the Second Cavalry Division started out
at an early hour on the Lee's Mills road again, to the plank-road, and
thence down to the Nottoway River, which was crossed by the Tenth
at Jones Neck, by fording, leaving the plank-road to the left. After
crossing, the Regiment halted at 2 p. M., and, then resuming the
march, arrived at Sussex Court-House at sunset and encamped. The
enemy's pickets were driven in during the day at various points.
Starting out next morning, at 4 A. M., the Weldon Railroad was
reached before noon, and the work of demolition vigorously begun.
Later, the Tenth moved down the railroad with the brigade, to Jar-
rett's Station, and at 8 P. M. encamped.

The Fifth Corps, and Mott's division of the Second Corps, were
associated with Gregg's division of cavalry in this manipulation of
railroad stocks, placing the Weldon in the " non-dividend-paying "
list

Again the Regiment moved out before sunrise on the cold, disa-
greeable 9th of December, and drove the enemy, while the infantry
followed, destroying the railroad. The Tenth, finally meeting with
a somewhat determined resistance, charged, mounted, down to Three
Creeks, when it was found the enemy had destroyed the bridge.
Here it was dismounted, crossed the river, and charged up the hill,
and to the line of earthworks held by the Confederates, which, prov-
ing too strong to be taken, it fell back. Meantime the enemy had
maintained a steady artillery-fire, which had been continued all the
afternoon. When the Regiment was about to charge across the river
the enemy opened fire from a little Fourth-of-July cannon, which
was only about two and a half feet in length. It threw a missile
not much larger than a deacon's oath. It was a veritable little son
of a gun, but it was as spiteful as a mother-in-law. At dark the Regi-
ment fell back, and the station at Bellefield was burned.

During this engagement, which was known as Three Creeks,
Major Sargeant, of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, was killed, while
gallantly leading his regiment in a charge. Major Snyder had his
horse shot from under him at the head of the Tenth, while making
a charge. At 1 p. m. the Regiment went on picket in a storm, the
rain freezing as it fell.

236 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1804

At an early hour on the 10 th the command moved out, recrossed
the Meherrin River, closely f ollo^'ed by the enemy, who charged about
noon, but were repulsed. Then they were charged in turn and
driven back.

When the command took up the march, on the morning of the
10th, the slender pine-trees were so heavily laden with sleet and ice
that the tops were bent nearly to the ground, and in some places
obstructed the road.

The action of this day is known as Jarre tt's Station.

C. W. "Wiles, of Company L, furnishes the following account of
this expedition ;

Before daylight on the 7th of December^ 1864, the stirring music of "Boots
and Saddles " rang through the cold mist and rain, and at four o'clock Gregg's
division of cavalry moved out of winter quarters for the extreme left flank of
the Union army. The Thirteenth Pennsylvania and Sixth Ohio Cavalry Regi-
ments and one battery of artillery were left in camp. Of the original leaders in
the Cavalry Corps General Gregg was^ the only one remaining. Bayard and Bu-
ford were in soldiers' graves ; Stoneman, Pleasanton, Averill, and Kilpatrick had
gone to other fields ; but Gregg retained his old command. His men had followed
him through many tedious campaigns and hard-fought battles. He possessed
their confidence and affection to the fullest extent. His division followed him
out of camp on this occasion with the full consciousness that, whatever the desti-
nation or work before them, he would guide them wisely and care for them well.

The attention of the infantry boys was attracted as the column passed by
their camps, and the cavalrymen were greeted with such good-natured sallies as,
" Don't go out and get into a fight, now. for us fellows to settle for you," " Don't
go out and stir up the Johnnies in such weather," etc.

We had hardly passed their camps, however, before the drums were calling
them out to follow us. Moving south on the Jerusalem plank-road we struck the
Nottoway at Freeman's bridge. The bridge was gone, and we crossed the river,
which was about three feet deep, by fording, the enemy making a show of dis-
puting the passage. They were quickly driven away, however. Pontoons were
in readiness for the infantry to cross next morning early. The cavalry pushed on
to Sussex Court-House, five miles farther. Here we found a long building sur-
rounded by a piazza used as a hotel. There were numbers of ladies from Rich-
mond stopping there. There were plenty of fences, and, remembering the orders
to "take only the top rails," the boys were soon surrounding cheerful, crackling
fires, over which chickens, hams, potatoes, etc.. were cooking.

The march was resumed at 4 a. m. on the 8th, the First Brigade leading. The
Halifax road was reached near Nottoway bridge at 9 a. m. The Third Brigade
was sent to destroy the bridge. As we turned on the Halifax road an attack was
made by the enemy's cavalry, which was handsomely repulsed by the Fourth
Pennsylvania Cavalry. About the same time the pickets on the flank were driven
in after the passage of the First Brigade, and for a brief period the column
severed. The Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry was sent back and cleared the road

1804

ACCOUNT OF THE RAID BY C. W. WILES. 237

in short order. The infantry followed a little later and completed the destruction
of the railroad. The cavalry marched slowly along the flanks as a protection to
the working i^arties of the infantry The'destruction of the road for about five
miles brou Jit the force to Jarrett's Station, where the depot, etc., was destroyed,
and the command bivouacked.

Early on the morning of the 10th the march was resumed, the Tenth in the
atlvttucc.'skirraishing frequently. The weather was cold and the progress slow.
Just after noon we reached a small deep stream called Three Creeks. The rail-
road bridge was burning, the highway bridge, with the exception of one timber,
gone, and the fords obstructed by fallen trees. Beyond the stream a force of dis-
mounted cavalry were supporting two field-pieces behind breastworks.

Colonel Avery ordered Major Snyder, with Companies A and L, to charge
across the field and cross the stream if possible. Away the boys went, some of
them wounded and some horses killed by the fire opened on them as they neared
the creek. Major Snyder's horse being killed under him near the railroad bridge.
Tiie squadron dismounted and soon after charged across, the balance of the Regi-
ment coming up as they made a dash to get across the creek. Captain Perry,
followed by a number of the boys, crossed on the only remaining timber of the
railroad bridge. The enemy abandoned their works and ran for the woods, leav-
ing several of their dead and wounded behind. Then the balance of the Regi-
ment came up, followed a little later by the First New Jersey and the First and
Third Brigades.

As SKime of our dismounted boys were passing a house in the edge of the
woods they stop[-ved and found several large bottles of whisky. As they came up
the stairs they encountered the proprietor, a physician, in Jiis office, in dressing-
gown and slippers, lie expressed indignation at the treatment, which turned to
violent demonstrations of anger when he saw through the window some of the
boys attacking his innocent and defenseless chickens. The Tenth, acting as sup-
port to the First New Jersey, occupied a timber, upon which the enemy concen-
trated the fire of their artillery, rendering the place quite warm. After dark the
Regiment was recalled. Soon after dark a cold rairi set in, and before midnight
it turne<l to sleet and ice. There was little sleep obtained by the boys that night.
They shivered over the fires through the night, and when morning came men,
horses, and saddles were coated witii ice.

At break of day on the 10th the Regiment recrossed Three Creeks and started
on the return. As the column passed over a hill at sunrise, a most beautiful
sight was presented to view. As far as the vision extended the landscape was
like shining crystal, suggestive of the home of fairies — in the rear the long column
of cavalry and artillery, the brightness of their arras and trappings being reflected
by the morning's sun.

On leaving Three Creeks the Third Brigade was attacked in rear by a large
force of mounted and dismounted cavalrj' ; but they were finally repulsed, and
the march was resumed.

On the return march the Tenth had the advance, with Companies A and L
leading. A mounted Confederate in the front fell back as the column advanced.
He was finally joined by another, when some of the advance-guard gave chase. On
reaching the station they turned to the left. A Confederate officer rode into the
highway, took off his hat and made a low, bow, and remained there. A few mo-

238 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G4

ments later he reeled in his saddle and was assisted to dismount. lie had invited
and had evidently received a Yankee bullet. As soon as our boys caino inio sight,
the rebels opened with two guns. 1'he first shot from their guns demolished an
old chimney just across the road. A colored man, who had taken refuge behind
the chimney, scattered in several directions when his tower of refuge came tum-
bling down.

When near Jarrett's Station, the Tenth leading, with Companies A and L,
under Captain Perry, as advance-guard, we encountered the reljcls, who retired
through the woods on a road running at right angles with the railroul. Colonel
Avery sent for Captain White to bring up his squadron, Companies E and K.
On the Captain's reporting, the Colonel said : " Captain White, I have a mighty
fine thing for you. There are a few Johnnies about twenty rods up that road. I
want you to charge them with the saber." General Davies with his staff was
present. He said to Colonel Avery, " Careful, Colonel" White forjned his men,
and with sabers drawn led them up the road, tho Confederates di^^appearing
around a bend. When the charging squadron reached the bend they were met
by a heavy fire from behind logs, etc., on each side of the road, while two cannon
in their immediate front contributed to make the visit embarrassing. White
fell back and deployed his men on each side of the road, and held the enemy in
check until the Regiment got up. The only casualties in Captain White's squad-
ron was the wounding of two men, brothers, belonging to Company K, one being
shot in the right and the other in the left arm by the same bullet. Captain Hart-
well had been sent with his squadron up another road to get on the enemy's flank,
but the underbrush was so dense he found it impossible. The Tenth held the
entire rebel force until the column had passed, and then resumed the march.
There was a drizzling rain all day.*

After leaving Jarrett's Station a horseman, with a United States blanket
wrapped about him, rode alongside the column until suspicion was aroused as to
his real character. A couple of the boys made a dash for him, when he lit out for
the rebel lines. He was a rebel scout. His horse was a good one. To its fleet-
ness he owed his escape. '^

On the 11th the march was continued. Through Sussex Court-IIouse, and
crossing the Nottoway in advance of the infantry the column passed, and back to
winter quarters at 1 a. m. on the 12th, men and horses nearly frozen.

♦ In this engagement the horse of Sergeant E. 1). Morse received three
wounds, all at nearly the same instant, but the faitliful animal carried the ser-
geant safely through and out of the action, and then fell dead. A bullet passed
through the canteen of Sergeant Morse, producing an ugly contusion on his leg.

1865 .CLOSING CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR. 239

'*f

CHAPTER XL

CLOSING CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR — FKOJI DINWIDDIE COURT-
HOUSE TO MUSTER OUT OF SERVICE.

^ ""^^^2^ HE Union lines had been gradually ex-
[' \\ ^v\l t tended south, and west, turning the Confed-
? erate right, until the South Side Railroad
7 was the only one left by which General Lee
'"^xTrW^^ fl could obtain supplies from the South with
^***^'^^ *!"v^^^'„c-' any degree of reliability. The Shenandoah
►f^'"' '^"^ Valley — the Valley of Humiliation — had

been gloriously redeemed by General Sheri- '
dan. Early had been sent " whirling up the Valley," while a large
portion of his army and material whirled into the possession of the
Union army. In the destruction of Early's army, " Sheridan's cav-
alry " played a prominent part. They were in at the beginning, and
it was they who administered the finishing touches to the remark-
ably successful campaign that destroyed an army that was by many
thought to bo invincible, and deprived the Confederates of their richest
granary. It is recorded that General Early was in constant dread of
the Yankee cavalry getting on liis flanks. And they did get on his
flanks most effectively. Custer and Merritt and Torbert and Devin
were omnipresent. They were constantly feeling the old man Early's
pulse. The trembling cry, on the march or in camp, that set the
rebels in a panic, was " The Yankee cavalry ! " No sleep, no rest,
while these dread wielders of the blade were on their path.

Some supplies came to the Army of Northern Virginia by the
Weldon Railroad. These were brought to a point as near as it was
considered safe, and were transported thence by the precarious use of
wagons, to Petersburg. General Grant determined to cut off this
source, by a movement of a sufficient force to Dinwiddle Court-House,
to overcome any opposition which might be encountered, to destroy
the railroad, capture the trains, and do such other damage to the
enemy as was possible. Gregg's cavalry division was selected for

24:0 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1865

tliis work, to be supported by the Fifth Corps under General War-
ren. ' #

The wagons of the brigado, under charge of Quartermaster Graves,
were ordered to City Point Lieutenant Farnsworth, who had been
detailed as Acting Quartermaster of the Tenth, was placed in charge of
part of the train. During the march Lieutenant Farnsworth came
upon that portion of the train in charge of Lieutenant James, who
had caused a large amount of the stores under his keeping to be
thrown together, and, filled with his own importance and commissary
cordial, had set fire to them. Lieutenant Farnsworth promptly went
to work to save the Government property. After driving the Lieu-
tenant away, he put out the fire, had the material loaded in his own
wagons, and proceeded on his way. .Lieutenant James was afterward
court-martialed.

At three o'clock on the morning of the 5th of February the Tenth
moved out of camp, and following the Jerusalem plank-road reached
Eeam's Station at 8 a. m. ; thence to Dinwiddle Court-House, passing
deserted Confederate camps en route^ where the fires, like the Con-
federacy, were still burning, but very low. Arriving at the Court-
House at one o'clock, the enemy were surprised, and forty men, in-
cluding a colonel, together with a number of wagons, were captured.
Then returning toward Ream's Station, Malone's bridge, over Eowanty
Creek, was found to have been destroyed by the enemy. Another was
built, upon which the cavalry crossed and encamped on the east side.
Snow and rain came with tiie halt — an unsavory admixture and an
unwelcome visitation. This day's action by the cavalry has been re-
corded as liOwanty Creek, and by some of the participants has been
called the first Dinwiddle fight. During the night connection was
made with the infantry on the right.

Then followed the Hatcher's Run fight, next day, February 6th.
Gregg's division and Warren's Fifth Corps were ordered to the
Vaughn road, where the Second and parts of the Sixth and Ninth
Corps were in position. The Tenth was reported in readiness to
move at 2 a. :>[., and a few moments later the march was taken up,
the Rowanta recrossed, and the march northward resumed, until
Hatcher's Run was reached aud crossed. Here the Regiment halted
for the purpose of preparing breakfast. Hardly had the horses been
relieved of their burdens when the pickets in the rear were driven in,
and the reserve attacked. Tlie Tenth was speedily formed, dismount-
ed, and followed the Twenty-fourth New Y'ork Cavalry skirmishers.
The Confederates were driven back, and our troops hastily threw up

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1865

ENGAGEMENT AT HATCHER'S RUN.

2^1

light breastworks, the fighting continuing meantime. The infantry
on the right were heavily engaged, and the conflict became desper-
ate along the entire line, the cavalry engaging Pegram's division of
Gordon's corps. At 1 p. m. the brigade was relieved by the infantry,

and after an* hour's respite the cavalrymen in turn relieved the in-
fantry boys, and the fight was continued with increased vigor on both
sides. The Tenth made a charge, capturing some prisoners and driv-
ing the enemy. About this time General Davies was wounded, and
the command of the brigade devolved on Colonel Avery, who dis-
patched a mounted officer to notify Lieutenant-Colonel Treraain to
take command of the Regiment.

At 2 p. M., just at the moment when he was about to lead a por-
tion of the Eegiment on the skirmish-line, the young Lieutenant-
Colonel turned to receive the message, and was struck in the hip by a
minie-ball. He was at once lifted tenderly up and carried to an
ambulance, and thence conveyed to the field hospital. Majors }3eau-
mont and Janeway, of tlie First New Jersey Cavalry, were also
bounded in this engagement. At dusk the Tenth fell back a short
distance with the brigade and bivouacked. A cold night, with rain,
freezing as it fell, olfered little opportunity for comfort or rest to the
weary and hungry men.
16

242 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1865

Of this engagement Captain John J. Van Tuyl writes :

The entire Regiment with the exception of my squadron was engaged in the
Vaughn road fight. We were in reserve, mounted, and I was thinking that for
once I was going to escape a fight, when Major Avery came back and said to me,
" Dismount your sqiiadron and prepare to fight on foot." I was then ordered to
retake some buildings on the skirmish-line which were occupied by the enemy.
The boys charged and drove the rebs out. There was a log-house, a barn, and a
pole corn-house. With nine men I took position behind the latter. The bullets
came through like water through a sieve, and all my men but one were killed or
wounded. I received a bullet in my knee, and Mart Youngs, of Company G,
helped me to get back as far as General Gregg's headquarters, where I obtained a
horse and rode to the old barn used as a hospital. The doctors said the leg must
come off, but I insisted that it must not, and they finally gave up. I was sent to
City Point Hospital two days after, and ten days later went home on leave. 1 was
back again in six weeks.

In reference to this engagement David T. Field writes :
We lay behind some rails, and when the ^rebs came on a charge we emptied
our seven-shooters and they went back ; but they reformed and came on again.
Will Hutchings, of Company H, shot a rebel captain, and jumped over the breast-
works and pulled off his knee-boots and put them on.

W. W. Williams, of Company D, relates the following incidents
connected with this fight :

I remember at the fight at Hatcher's Run, February 6, 18G5, General Gregg
heard a newsboy back in the rear calling out his papers. He sent another orderly
to get him one of each of the papers. He got the papers and folded them, then
put them inside of his jacket. I received some orders, and on my way to General
Warren to deliver them met this orderly on his way back. When I had got within
two or three rods of him I heard a bullet {iass my left ear and saw him fall from
his horse. I got to him as soon as possible. I saw where the bullet had entered,
and my conclusion was, " Shot through the heart." I unbuttoned his jacket and
pulled out the papers, and the bullet dropped out, and right over his heart was a
black spot the size of a silver dollar.

The night of February Cth was a terrible one. The rain froze as
it fell, and the men were compelled to keep in line nearly all night.
About midnight the horses were brought up and the Regiment
mounted and moved back about a mile and a half and bivouacked ;
but the boys were compelled to keep moving to avoid freezing. The
fighting on the main line of the army had been very severe during
the night. In the darkness, Captain Fobes, the popular division
Commissary of Subsistence, was tlirown violently from his horse and
received injuries from wliicli ho died on the 0th.

The Regiment fell back to tlie Weldon Railroad and bivouacked
on the 7th, a snow-storm prevailing meantime. Here the boys were

18C5 RESIGNATION OF GENERAL GREGG. 243

compelled to shiver it out in the sleet iind snow until the morning of
the 8th, when they marched back to their old quarters. At 5 P. M.
Lieutenant-Colonel Tremain died at City Point Hospital.

General Gregg having tendered his resignation on the 3d of Feb-
ruary, took his leave of the Second Cavalry Division one week later.
His departure was keenly felt by the men whom he had so long and
successfully led. He had shared with them all the privations and
pleasures, disappointments and enjoyments, successes and reverses,
since the organization of the Cavalry Corps, and they had learned to
love and trust him implicitly. It is safe to say that no commander
in the army enjoyed the respect and confidence of his men more uni-
versally than the commander of the Second Cavalry Division. He
took his leave on the 9th, Colonel Gregg taking command of the
division.

Captain A. T. Bliss, of Company D, who was captured by the
enemy in July and had been confined in rebel prisons, rejoined the
Regiment on the lOtli.

The following day Colonel Avery left for Albany, N. Y., with the
remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Tremain.

The usual routine of picket duty, etc., continued during the re-
mainder of February.

Major Blynn returned from leave of absence on the 20 th and re-
lieved Captain J. M. Reynolds, who had been in command of the
Regiment since the Gth.

Lieutenant Morey, of Company E, who had escaped from rebel
prisons, rejoined the Regiment on the 21st. for the purpose of being
mustered out of service.

The Tenth celebrated Washington's birthday by a march to Yel-
low Tavern and back again.

Two hundred recruits arrived on the 25th. The same day Gen-
eral Davies returned from leave of absence and assumed command of
the Second Division, which had been commanded by Colonel Gregg
since General Gregg's departure.

Captain George L. Brinkerhoff, of Company B, who had been
serving on General Gregg's staff, on returning from his home in
Cuba, whither he had been on leave of absence, was found dead in
his bed at a Philadelphia hotel. The following brief announcement
of the sad event appeared in the associated press dispatches :

PniLADELPniA, JIarch 10, 18G5.— Captain George L. Brinkerhoff, of the Tenth
New York Cavalry, aide to General Gregg, was found dead in his bed at the Con-
tinental Hotel this morning.

244 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CxVVALRY. 18G5

Colonel Avery returned from leave of absence on the 11th, and
on the 13th Surgeon Clarke ajid Assistant-Surgeon Catlin arrived.

On the 27th of March the Cavalry Corps Avas reunited. General
Sheridan, after thoroughly renovating the Shenandoah A^alley, took
the First and Third Cavalry Divisions and marched overland to the
Army of the Potomac.

A " staff-officer " writes of the event as follows :

Next morning, March 27th, we were off bright and early for the left flank of
the Army of the PotoniEic, where we found our old friends of Gregg's cavalry
division, from whom we had parted when ordered to the Shenandoah Valley with
the other two divisions of the corps; but we missed the golden beard of the im-
perturbable General Gregg, who had so admirably commanded this superb division,
and who, for some pressing private reasons, had now resigned from the army.
On the day of our arrival General Crook assumed command of the division and
reported to General Sheridan, thus reuniting the old Cavalry Corps under its most
famous commander.*

In anticipation of a successful termination of the campaign about
to be opened by General Grant, President Lincoln had established
himself at City Point, that he might the more readily receive informa-
tion from the front.

General Grant had felt some apprehensions lest General Lee
should quietly slip away from his front, and -by forced marches unite
with General Johnston to try and overcome General Sherman before
assistance could reach him. The instructions to General Sheridan
were to proceed with the cavalry to Dinwiddie Court-House, to be in
readiness to strike the enemy in flank and rear, in which he was to be
supported by a corps of infantry. Sheridan was further instructed,
in certain contingencies, to march southward and co-operate with
General Sherman. This plan was so distasteful to General Sheridan,
that he made but a sorry attempt to conceal his disapprobation of it,
and General Grant so modified the instructions as to render them
practically null and void. Sheridan appears to have been imbued
with a desire to repeat his tactics in the Shcnanhoah Valley and " end
matters up" at once. General Horace Porter, of General Grant's
staff, says that General Sheridan, in warming up on the subject of an
immediate attack, said, " I tell you I'm ready to strike out to-mor-
row and go to smashing things ! " f

Reveille at 3 A. M. on the 20th was evidence that Sheridan was
not " twenty miles away." Tlie Tenth was in line, and commenced

* With General Sheridan in Lee's Last Campaign, p. oG.
f Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. ii, p. 710.

1865

HARD FIGHTING. 245

the march with the cavalry at 5 A. M., going via Ream's Station again
to Dinwiddie Court- Ilouse, where it bivouacked. There was some-
thin^' suggestive* in the closing sentence of the order of march from
brigade lieadquarters for this day :

It is not expected that the command will return to the present camp.

It rained hard on the evening of the 30th and all day on the 31st,
making it impossible to move artillery. In the afternoon of the 30th
the Tenth marched toward Hicks Ford's Station, and bivouacked.

General Fitzhugh I.ee, with his division, was on the extreme left of
the Confederate army on the 28th. He was hurriedly sent by General
Lee to meet the threatened movement against his right, with instruc-
tions to assume command of all the cavalry, and such infantry sup-
ports as would be sent. But on the evenirig of the 30th General
Pickett assumed command of all the troops to move against Sheridan
next morning.

General Sheridan was made aware about dark that not only was
the entire Confederate cavalry in his front, but that a large force of
infantry as well were in position to dispute his further progress. The
whole number has been put down at 5,7G0 cavalry and 6,600 infantry.*

The brigade of brevet Brigadier- General Charles H. Smith (Colo-
nel of the First Maine Cavalry) occupied the extreme left of General
Sheridan's line, and this brigade received the first shock of the Con-
federates' desperate assault. On the right of Smith was Gregg's
brigade f posted along the low ground, with Davies's brigade joined
to their right. The rebels, in greatly superior numbers, swept from
the woods and forced General Davies's brigade back toward the right
of our line, and then bore down upon Gregg's right flank. But at the
same time General Gregg had left his position, and was hastening
with his brigade, mounted, to strike the rebels in the rear. After
some stubborn fighting Davies's brigade was forced back. The Tenth
marched to Dinwiddie Court-IIouse at dark, where the led horses
were in waiting.

Captain John P. White writes concerning this fight :

Our brigade faced Pickett's division of the rebel army in a little clearing in
the dense woods. They got upon both our flanks, and fired into our led horses,
in rear, before attacking us in front. We were compelled to move across the
opening and up a hill to attack them. They were behind a fence and in the

* Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 328.

f Colonel Gregg had been recently brevetted a brigadier-general.

246 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G5

woods. They poured a hot fire into us, and we were compelled to get out of there
lively, and there wasn't much order in our going, either. Some of the boys came
out of the woods where our infantry line was, away to the. right. Custer, who
had been back with the trains, came up in the evening, and joined us in the
charge. He repeated his old band-on-the-line tactics, and while they played we
cheered. We then held our own.

Next morning I was sent to communicate with our infantry. It was raining
hard, and the creek was much swollen. I was compelled to swim across, 'where I
found the Fifth Corps.

Sergeant L. A. Colburn, of Company A, writes, in regard to the
Dinwiddie fight :

Our Regiment was sent in dismounted at Dinwiddie Court-House on the 31st
of March, and early in the fight occupied the extreme left. We were fighting
superior numbers, and the rebels soon got on our flanks. We fell back witliout
much regard for formation. At this time I was struck by a minie-ball, which
stretched me upon the ground. I tried to get up, but could not. The rebels were
following close upon us, and I expected to fall into their hands. While in tliis
helpless condition Sergeant John P. McWethy, of Company A, passed, not recog-
nizing me at first. Turning to take a second look he exclaimed, " My God, Lew I
is this you f " I tried to persuade him to go on and make his escape and leave
me to my fate. I told him I was badly wounded and he could not get me away,
and that he would be killed or captured if he tried. He replied that he would
share my fate then, as he would not leave me, but would get me off if possible.
He loosened my belt and lifted me to my feet, but I' could help myself but little.
Jack trudged slowly along with his heavy burden, while the bullets whistled past
and were striking the trees all around us. He stuck to me till he got me into an
ambulance and then bade me good-by. I never returned to the Regiment. The
conflict had ceased and peace had been restored before I was able to leave the
hospitaL

Edward Adams (Albert E. A. Engle), of Company I, says, in re-
gard to the Dinwiddie fight :

We were in a field, with woods on every side. When the command came to
dismount and prepare to fight on foot I was given the horses of three of ray com-
rades to hold besides my own. Just as our boys scaled a fence the Confederates
opened a hot fire on them, and back they came, every man grabbing a horse irre-
spective of ownership ; but the three comrades whose horses I was holding each
secured his own horse in the scramble. Here Captain Charles E. Pratt was
wounded. The order having been given to fall back, I was compelled to ride be-
tween the fence and a large tree. The three hoi-ses I had been holding were
hitched to each other by the bridles, and as part of them went on one side of the
tree and part on the other, the passage of the troops in the retreat was stopped.
I pulled the ones between the fence and tree back, thus freeing them, just as a
rebel made his appearance on the opposite side of the fence. In the rain of bul-
lets which followed I was wounded in the right foot, but, the horses being now
free, we continued to fall back and I escaped.

18G0 DISSOLUTION OF TDE HOUSE OF DAVIS NEAR AT HAND. 247

•

The dissolution of the rebel Army of Northern Virginia began
with tlie arrival of Sheridan and spring. With the desire to " finish
up the job," which was a striking characteristic of the man, Sheridan
had wasted no time after uniting his forces — cavaliers fresh from
scenes of glorious victories — with the Army of the Potomac. The
second day after his arrival he was leading these veterans, reunited
with their tried and trusted associates of Gregg's division, against the
doomed battalions of Lee with an impetuosity and boldness that
struck terror to the hearts of the Confederate leaders, who had seen
Early's fine army vanish before his irresistible onslaughts.

Dinwiddle was the skirmish or "feeler" that preceded the im-
pending storm. The Confederates had met the first advance with
becoming gallantry, and now, after Sheridan's troopers had got their
second wind — for it can hardly be denied that they got a little the
worst of it at Dinwiddle — they were prepared to take the initiative
nnder the inspiration of their leader that would insure " handsome
results " in the near future.

The morning of April 1st was foggy. General Warren had been
ordered to Sheridan's assistance the night before, and was expected to
open the ball on the flank and rear of the Confederates. But time
passed, and no attack. Meantime Merritt's and Custer's troops were
" feeling " the enemy and doing some fighting until evening, when,
the Fifth Corps having arrived, it was in conjunction with the
cavalry moved against the enemy at Five Forks. The fighting be-
came very heavy and was continued through the night. Prisoners
in sufficient numbers to start a fair-sized, if not a respectable Con-
federacy were brought in. Sheridan had evidently struck a soft
spot in the rebel line and was pushing things in his characteristic
manner.

Ten o'clock, Sunday morning, April 2d, found the Tenth en route
for the South Side Railroad. The night had been a tumultuous one.
The cannonading, at times, fairly shook the earth. General Grant
had ordered a general assault of the Confederate lines at 2 A. M., but
as some of the commanding officers were not ready, a delay of two
hours was granted, during which the artillery were ordered to con-
tinue a heavy cannonading^.

While the Tenth was marching, with the rest of the cavalry, to
secure the South Side llailroad, the President of the Confederacy was
attending church in Richmond, all unconscious of the net that was
being tlirown around his capital, leaving but the one avenue of escape
open, the Danville road.

24S niSTOr.Y OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1865

President Davis says : *

In the forenoon of Sunday, tlic 2d, I received, when in church, a telegram
announcing that the army would retire from Petersburg at night, and I went to
my office to give needful directions for the evacuation of Richmond. . . . The
event had come before Lee had expected it, and the announcement was received
by liS in Richmond with sorrow and surprise.

Alread}^ the radiant morn of a conquered peace was beginning to
dawn on tlie minds of the patient and faithful defenders of the Union.
The dissolution of the Confederacy was at hand. The aggressive spirit
of the comniandcr of the cavalry, wdiich he knew so well how to im-
part to others, was already producing " handsome results." Under
his inspiration the men well understood that the end was near at
hand, and they would soon receive leaves of absence without limit of
time.

" Boots and Saddles " brought the Regiment into line early on the
morning of the 3d. Moving out it crossed the railroad at Suther-
land's Station, and marched nearly to Appomattox, then counter-
marched, passed the Second Corps, and finally bivouacked in an open
field. Here information was received of the evacuation of Petersburg
and Richmond. Great rejoicing and good feeling resulted.

At night the Tenth started with the brigade and marched rapidly
in a northwesterly direction, passing the infantry, and encamped at
midnisrht between Sutherland Station and Burkesville. Here the
horses were unsaddled and groomed. Company A guarded prisoners
during the day. On the march during this day the Regiment passed
over a road which had been corduroyed with captured rebel muskets,
on which General Merritt had hauled some of the cannon taken in
action.

Two days' rations, including fresh beef, were issued to the Tenth at
4 A.. M. on the 4th. Starting out of camp early, a rapid march was
maintained all day, when the Danville Railroad was struck at 4 p. m.,
and followed for several miles. Going into bivouac near Jetersville,
a part of the Regiment went on picket.

Then, up and in line again at 4.30 a. m. on the 5th. It was hard
work, but the boys responded to every call with alacrity and cheerful-
ness. Tliis was a star-day for Davies's brigade. It moved out at G a. m.,
and fell upon General Lee's wagon-trains at Paine's Cross-roads. The
escort was dispersed, and the dingy vehicles consigned to the flames.
Five pieces of artillery and several battle-flags, besides some prisoners,

* Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, vol. ii, pp. 055, C5G.

W^p^^fma^f^^^j^m^

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'&^.^iidi^Aj,k., , -i:«>.-Hht;iHyto'iiifaifiii?i^

ADJUTANT FRANK J. SHAVER.

1863 BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK 249

were the substantial rewards of the enterprise and gallantry of General
Davies and liis followers. Af tei; sending the plunder on the road to
Jetersville, the boys were reminded that there was some of the Con-
federacy still alive, as a vigorous attack was made in their rear.*
The return march was being made over the same route on which the
brigade had advanced. The Tenth, having in charge the captured
guns and prisoners, was leading, with Companies A and L, under
Captain Perry, in advance. When near Jetersville, Captain Perry
reported the enemy in great numbers in his front. In the retrograde
movement, with the captured property to care for, General Davies had
hia hands full. The brigades of Gregg and Smith had been sent to
his assistance, and they came with ready blades and knightly valor.
The First Xew Jersey was sent forward, and made a gallant charge,
in which its brave young commander, already decorated with more
than a dozen honorable scars, went down, with a bullet through his
brain. And here, too. Major Thomas, of the First Pennsylvania, lost
a leg. Rosser's and Munford's divisions of cavalry, under General
Fitzhiigh Lee, were the troops with which the Second Division was
contending. They fought with a determination born of despair.

Captain John J. Van Tuyl, of Company K, who was guarding
prisoners with his squadron, writes as follows :

After marching about two miles, I heard firing in front. As we were marching,
Colonel Avery, coming up, ordered me to clear the road. As I went forward, I
came upon Major J. M. Reynolds, of our Regiment, who was in command of one
company from the Tenth and one from the Second New York Mounted Rifles.
United we charged and drove the rebels for a mile or more, when, the road being
cleared, I resumed the journey with my charge. I had just passed the point
where we had driven the enemy back, when they in turn forced us to retire.
Colonel Avery was on hand with one battalion of the Tenth, and the united force
succeeded in holding the position until the arrival of the First New Jersey and
First Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiments, both distinguishing themselves in the en-
gagement which followed.

Every soldier in the Army of the Potomac was alive to the impor-
tance of the situation— all were filled with ardor and excitement. The
cavlilry partook of the zeal and enterprise of their leader, and were
ready to do, or attempt to do, anything he might direct, having in
view the capture or destruction of Lee's army.

At daybreak on the Cth the Tenth was on the march with the

♦ General Thomas T. Munford. Confederate cavalry, says in the Philadelphia
Weekly Times of May 17, 1881, " We drove off General Davies, who had gotten in-
to our wagon-trains and burned up all we had left after the ' Valley races.' "

250 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. *18G5

' rest of the division for the enemy's left— if he had any left. The
story of this memorable day's action at Sailor's Creek, on the part of
tlie Tenth, is best told in the ^wrds of prominent participants.

Captain John J. Van Tuyl was assigned to a peculiar duty, viz.,
to ascertain whether or no the enemy's works could be scaled— by
hordes. Here is what he says :

I was placed in charge of about one hundred men, with instructions to see if
Ewc]l\s works could be jumped. 1 deployed the men and advanced. When I
consid. red the approach sufficiently near, 1 ordered a charge to the works. All
who had not been placed hors de combat responded with a will. Some of the
men had already been killed or wounded ; others had lost their horses, so that my
force had become considerably reduced. I remember two lieutenants who were
near me were both shot; not more than twenty-five of the force I started from
our lines with reached the rebel works and returned with me, mounted. My little
pacer was shot within twenty feet of the rebel works, and at the same time Dave
Fleet, of Company G, was shot and fell from his horse, and I mounted his horse
and rode back, reporting that the works could be jumped, as they were only about
two feet high. 1 was complimented for my action, General Sheridan remarking
that he had never seen a bolder advance under so heavy a fire. Inside of ten
minutes our line was formed and the charge made, in which the infantry jomed,
bagging Swell's corps, including generals, cannon, flags, etc., in great numbers. '

Captain W. 11. Perry, of Company A, furnishes the following
account of tlie Sailor's Creek engagement :

On the morning of the 6th of April, 18G5, I was ordered with my squadron to
guard the ammunition-wagons, a duty never before assigned me, and in fact the
first time my squadron had ever been absent from the Regiment for any duty
whatever. The Regiment moved forward, leaving us with the wagons, which we
followed leisurely, congratulating ourselves that if there was to be a' circus we
would be lookers-on instead of being in the ring. In the afternoon we could hear
the firing in front, which seemed to be scattered over a large section of territory.
We know the performance had commenced and that to make it a success the am-
munition we had in charge would be needed. I therefore made no halt, but
moved forward, found the Regiment and reported for duty, and was assigned
a position. As the Regiment was formed by squadrons, mine being the first,
it brought me in front. Part of Lee's wagon-train had fallen into the hands
of our troops before our arrival, and the wagons were on fire. Just as we had
taken our position the shells in the burning wagons began to explode. The
train wa^ made up of ammunition, commissary and quartermasters' stores, gen-
eral merchandise, and plunder from Richmond. The bursting shells from^the
ordnance-wagons were somewhat unpleasant ; but we didn't mind them much,
well knowing that the shell of the Confederacy was about to explode, which would
bring joy to all our hearts. The wagon-train was on the left of our Regiment,
with some Union troops intervening, while the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry,'
under the command of Major Snyder of the'Tenth. was on our right. In front
of us and not more than thirty rods away was the Confederate line in the ed^-e of

1805 CAPTAIN DAVID FLETCHER'S ACCOUNT. 251

,a piece of timV)er, on ground about level with us, with a small knoll between. In
front of the Twenty-fourth New York was a hill also crowned with timber. The
enemy had thrown together rails, logs, etc., making a fair breastwork. We held
our position for some time, awaiting orders, and while there the Twenty-fourth
New York made a most gallant charge up the hill in the face of the enemy's line.
As the Regiment made the charge alone and unsupported, in the face of a greatly
superior force protected by trees and breastworks, it was repulsed and fell back.
On the right of our line, but by reason of the formation of the country out of our
sight, was General Custer's division. Presently we received orders to advance,
and from the racket and rumpus on our right we felt that tlie whole line was ad-
vancing. It was an ugly place to charge. The enemy had all the time been
strengthening their position, but our boys went gallantly forward under a wither-
ing fire and drove them from the works. As they broke they lost all forma-
tion and went across the country, scattering like children just out from school,
our boys chasing up and gathering them in. It reminded me of the Brandy Sta-
tion fight of June 0, 1863 ; but in this fight the Confederates were just in sight of
the "last ditch," and after being driven from their works they became an easy
prey, hardly making a stand except when in large numbers. A squad of our
Regiment carao upon a considerable force of them trying to get across Sailor's
Creek, and in the fight which ensued some of our boys were wounded, but we
gatliered in a large number of prisoners. Night put an end to the fighting and
we bivouacked on the battle-field, our boys jubilant, and such of our erring
brethren as had not come into our " praise-meeting " were " scattered the country
all around."

Captain David Fletcher gives his recollections of the Sailor's
Creek engagement as follows :

On the morning of April 6, 1865, we came upon the enemy in breastworks.
General Custer's division was on our right. General Davies's brigade went into
position about as follows: The Twenty-fourth New" York on the right, joined on
tlie left in the order named: Tenth New York, First Pennsylvania, another
Pennsylvania regiment (the designation I do not recollect), with the First Elaine
on the extreme left. This brought our Regiment in front of Kershaw's division
of Confederate infantry. Custer's attempts to break the enemy's line had been
unsuccessful, although he had made several charges. The wagon-trains of the
rebel army were on the left front of the brigade. The First i\Iaine was ordered
forward, and responded in the face of a terrible shower of lead from the rebel
line. Then ihe order came for the entire brigade to advance. The battalion
commanded by 3Iajor Reynolds, composed of the squadrons of Captains Perry
and Pletcher, started without waiting for orders from Colonel Avery. The line
was comj^ollcd to halt at a high fence, beyond which was General Kershaw with
his headquarters colors. Bcfure we liad finished tearing down the fence the rebels
commenced throwing up their hands in token of surrender. We were shut off
from view of the right of our Regiment by trees and underbrush. Orders came
to cease firing, as Custer's men were in our front. This caused a temporary lull ;
but Custer's line was sweeping across the field to the right and we could plainly
see them. An explanation of the situation was followed by an order from Colonel

252 HISTORY OF THE TENTH EEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C5

Avery to go ahead. We sprang forward, but, before we could reach the spot,
Custer's men, sweeping down, took General Kershaw with his staff prisoners and
captured the colors, all of which should have been to the credit of our Regiment;
but the Tenth reaped a rich harvest in prisoners, capturing several hundred, to-
gether with one piece of artillery, Harris Daniels and Andrew Bringle, of Com-
pany F, being first to lay hands on the piece.* They were with the gun when
Major Snyder, of our Regiment, who was commanding the Twenty-fourth New
York, came up and claimed the capture. Captains Perry, Van Tuyl, and myself,
had passed by the piece before the Twenty-fourth came up. Just before the close
of this fight Captain Perry was wounded while trying to •' surround " the fleeing
Confederacy. The advance of Major Reynolds's battalion, mounted, under the
concentrated fire of so large a body of the enemy was one of the grandest of the
many gi'and events of the closing scenes of the great war.

Of the Sailor's Creek engagement Captain John P. White writes :

At tlie Sailor's Creek fight, ort the 6th of April, Captain Walter Perry's squad-
ron— Companies A and L — were sent out as " feelers " across an open field, with
the rebs behind works in the edge of the woods. Well, we felt of them ; and they
felt of us, too. Captain Perry and 1 had mounted several of our men on mules,
which we had captured the day before at Amelia Court-House, and when we went
on that charge, to feel the enemy, the Johnnies allowed us to get close up to their
works, and then they opened on us hot. Well, those mules just stood still and
flapped their ears, and the boys had to jump from their backs to save their lives.
Seven of the mules were killed. Captain Perry got a shot in the leg. The brigade
then joined in the charge, Devin's brigade on the left and Custer's on our right.
We captured nearly the whole of Ewell's corps. After the main fight was over,
and the smoke and dust had cleared away, there was what appeared to be about a
regiment beyond a swamp and fence. General Davies ordered me with my squad-
ron through the woods, to get on their flank and start them out. As we were
filing through the thick undergrowth, I discovered six or eight rebs coming to-
ward me, and, supposing it to be a party that did not know they were whipped,
and were advancing as skirmishers, I gave the word of caution to my command.
As my men were raising their carbines to fire, I heard a voice from the rebs call-
ing out : " Don't shoot. Captain ; I've got 'em ! " It was Ed Kinney, of Company
L, who had gone out and made the whole squad surrender. He was driving them
in as one would drive turkeys. I got on the flank of the rebs ; they gave us a
very hot reception, but we started them on the run.

Hugo Mulertt, Company C, fui^nishes the following, descriptive of
the Sailors' Creek fight :

It wa.s the memorable 6th of April, 18G5. After several changes in our posi-
tion, during which we built breastworks and rifle-pits, to leave them again when
completed, we entered another piece of woods to our right. Here we met a large
foroe of our cavalry preparing for an attack. The enemy had found us out, how-
ever, and shelled the woods to such a degree that we were compelled to leave it.
Our own battery of four pieces came into action also.

* Andrew Brintrle was awarded a medal of honor for this act.

1865 HUGO MULERTT'S ACCOUNT. 253

Before us was a large field. The enemy occupied the woods bordering it on
the opposite side, and had breastworks all along the edge of it. About midway
between us and the enemy, not much more than a hundred yards from us, was an
oak fence. This fence kept us out of sight of the enemy, but it likewise hindered
us from making a successful charge on them.

We dismounted and led our horses into a lower piece of the field, where the
latter were out of reach of the bullets. jMy company was ordered to pull down
that fence, and use the rails to barricade a road on the right of us.

We advanced, crawling on our hands and knees, to the fence, and taking the
rails down one by one we passed them along toward the right, where they were
used to build the barricade. I was about the third or fourth man from the road.
It is hardly necessary to state that v,-e were sharply watched by the enemy, and
the least exposure on -our part was fatal. In one rail that I was passing, three
bullets hit at once while I held it. All this time the charges of eight cannon
crossed both ways immediately over our heads.

Opposite to where we were barricading the road the enemy's infantry prepared
for a charge on us. At this moment our bugle called us back.

We had barely reached our horses when Colonel Avery put his case around
his pipe, drew his saber, and thundered in his stentorian voice :

" Tenth New York — atten— cho— a — o — n I Dra — w — sa — ber I Forward —
tro— ott!"

Then the bugler sounded the charge. The bands began to play in our rear.
Cannon roared and shells screeched all around us. On the spot where the fence
had been we encountered the rebel cavalry face to face, horse to horse, in open
field — a fair trial I What a terrible mass we were, enticing to right and left
against each other and our horses as well ! Some took hold of their antagonists
with their hands to pull them out of their saddles. Even our horses appeared to
make it an individual affair among themselves, for they kicked up in front and
bit at each other. IIow long we were such a solid mass, almost wedged together
and pressed against from all sides by the horses that one could almost have
broken his legs, I do not know. Riderless horses with bloody saddles became
more and more frequent. One man after another disappeared, and the line of
battle became so mixed with empty horses that one could not reach his antagonist
with the saber, and revolvers and carbines were used.

" Stoop down as mnch as possible in a saber-fight " was our golden rule ; and
so, with as little exposure as possible, we got in our work.

There I that bearded fellow who just takes aim ; you make a motion to fire at
him, but before your carbine is on your cheek he drops his piece, his body falls
forward, then to the right, from his horse, which takes fright, turns around and
runs away, dragging its helpless rider, whose foot is caught in the stirrup, along
on the ground. Somebody else served him before you could, you look now for
another target, but, as soon as your shooting " tells," you are served the same way.

Re-enforcemonts reached the enemy from the right, coming out of the woods.
They made a fierce attack to break our line, but we resisted the strain. Now
they wavered ; tlieir ranks became weaker. They looked toward the right, then
to the left, and at this critical moment our reserve came up. This decided the
day. The rebels broke, their bugles sounded the retreat, and we answered it
with a hurrah I

254 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. I860

We followed them closely, but nearing their breastworks on the edge of the
woods we received a volley from the infantry behind it, that, no doubt, injured
many in rear of us, but with us there was no stop. We jumped clear over the
works, and many of the men behind it were killed by the hoofs of our horses.

Following another road, we met some of the enemy's wagons, broken down
and on fire. They were surrounded by several of our men, who hastily searched
them and prigged things out of them. We imagined that they were money-
wagons, and hastened to assist them. But we were agreeably surprised when we
discovered that they contained something far more valuable to us then than gold
— their contents were potatoes, some already baked. We filled our haversacks
with them and went on again.

It was evening, but it was by no means dark yet. Some of the boys directed
our attention to the beautiful red sunset. We all looked in that direction, but
soon discovered that the red shine over us was not caused by the departing sun.
It was the reflex of the numberless wagons, with the supplies of the enemy and
the forest, that were on fire. It was terribly beautiful ; the firmament in the
direction in which the enemy retreated was one immense glow.

We stopped for the night at about eight or nine o'clock. We fed our horses
on corn-meal, of which large quantities had fallen into our hands, and soon fell
asleep.

About 2 A. M. the bugles awoke us. In such cases we used to touch one another
for the purpose of awakening. I took hold of the leg of my neighbor, but oh,
horror I it was stiff ; he was dead. The next to me, whose head was joining mine
from the opposite direction, was asleep yet, too. I touched him ; he was also cold
and stiff. I jumped to my feet with a spring at this discovery, and stepped to the
fire, where I was asked whether I had also slept upon some dead Johnny.

" Not on one, but side by side of two," 1 replied.

Our Regiment had camped on the battle-field. These bodies we had noticed
the night before, but we took them for sleeping soldiers — which, indeed, they
were — and were careful not to awaken them in their needed slumber. We had
finally laid ourselves beside them for the sake of warmth and company.

At daybreak we passed the headquarters of General Sheridan. Here we saw the
Confederate battle-flags that we had helped to capture the afternoon before,
planted in the ground in a long row in front of his tent. We counted them as
we passed ; they were twenty-eight in number.

After this we passed a camp containing the prisoners; their number was
thousands, including General Ewell himself. In addition we had captured many
pieces of artillery, the greater part of Lee's wagon-train, and an immense number
of mules and horses. The latter came handy for those of our comrades who had
lost theirs ; they could now be remounted and stay with us.

W. W. Williams, of Company D, orderly to General Crook, con-
tributed the following to the Rockland (Maine) Courier of May 7,
1889 :

A few days before Lee's surrender, at Sailor's Creek, April C, 18G5, I got
pretty well in the advance and ran on the rel)cl wagon-train. I rode back and re-
ported to General Crook where it was. I heard him tell one of his aides to go and
tell a brigade commander to charge the train. When L heard that, I rode to the

1865 GENERAL SHERIDAN'S ESTIMATE OF IT. 255

Sergeant in command of the General's escort and told him where the train was,
and I told him that the General had given orders to charge tlie train. Said I,
*• Form the escort, and let us be the first ones at the train." He did. We charged,
but did not stop at the wagons, but passed between them, across tlic road into an
open field. The Johnnies were going across the fields like a flock of sheep. I
stopped a rebel General and two staff-officers. I finally rode back to General
Crook and told him how the situation looked to me. I said to him, •' If I had a
regiment, 1 could get all I wanted of them fellers." He said, "If you can find
one, take it." I did find the First Maine, who were in the charge but farther to
the right, and they went with me ; but the rcbs had reached the woods, and we
only got about a dozen. On the way back the boys found some forage and in a
small building a cask of wine.

The Sergeant of the escort, James M. Hall, Company A, First Maine Cavalry,
was found dead on the hill to the right.

Sergeant Williams also writes :

At the battle of Sailor's Creek I captured a general and two staff-ofiicers. I
was foolish enough to allow others to take them to the rear, and they received the
credit of the capture.*

Edward Adam (Albert E. A. Engle), of Company I, was one of
the first to reach the two cannon left in the road by the enemy. He
also assisted in pushing our own guns up to the line, and took four
prisoners during the fight.

General Sheridan says of the battle of Sailor's Creek : .

The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and Gordon in
his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the severest conflicts of the war,
for the enemy fought with desperation to escape capture, and we, bent on his
destruction, were no less eager and determined. The capture of Ewell, with six
of his generals and most of his troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so
overshadowed by the stirring events of the surrender, three days later, that the
battle has never been accorded the prominence it deserves. f •

And of the action of General Davies's brigade in this fight, General
Crook, commander of tlio Second Cavalry Division, has been pleased
to say that it " made one of the finest charges of the war, riding over
and capturing the works and their defenders. The enemy on the
right, who were thus cut off from retreat, surrendered and were taken
by different parties."

At the close of this eventful day General Sheridan forwarded
General Grant the report, closing with the memorable words, " If the
thing is pressed, I think Lee will surrender.'* This message was trans-

* General Corse was the general officer captured.
f Personal Memoirs of P. II. Sheridan, pp. ISO, 181.

256 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G5

mitted by the Lieutenant-General to the President, who was at City
Point, eagerly watching the course of events, and Mr. Lincoln returned
the laconic answer, " Let the' thing be pressed."

Up and in jnirsuit again at 6 A. M., on the 7th, Crook's division
leading, with the First Brigade in advance. Prisoners, M^agons, etc.,
were constantly being added to the stock on hand during tlie march.
As the column approached Farmville, the enemy hastily decamped,
aiter burning the bridge, cars, locomotives, etc. The Tenth charged
into the town, to find only hospitals, filled with Confederate wounded.
After crossing the Appomattox River, the Second Brigade, under
General Gregg, took the advance, and soon after marched into an am-
bush, and the head of the column was cut off, and General Gregg
taken prisoner. General Davies moved his brigade promptly to the
assistance of the Second, and the Tenth became engaged with the
enemy at close quarters.

Of the fight at Farmville, Captain I)avid Fletcher gives the fol-
lowing account :

Davies's brigade passed through Farmville on the 7th of April, in hot pursuit
of the fleeing Confederates. General Davies halted his command about three
miles south of the town, and dismounted the men in the fields to the right of the
road. While here, the Second Brigade, with General Irvin Gregg at its head,
passed us and took the advance. We were enjoying the rest, lying upon the
grass, when the sound of rapid firing came from the direction taken by Gregg's
brigade. Our brigade was mounted and marched briskly forward, the First New
Jersey in advance. A slight turn in the road revealed a little ravine in front.
The Jersey boys had passed this and entered the woods beyond, when they en-
countered the panic-stricken pack-train of the Second Brigade in full retreat. On
they came, striking the Jersey regiment with a vigor that broke their formation,
and carried them along with the force of the tide, into an open field, near where
the other regiments of the brigade, wore drawn up in the road. Here the Regi-
ment rallied, and was soon reformed. Our Regiment was just at the turn in the
road, waiting for the pack-train to pass. The Regiment came very near meeting
the same fate as the New Jersey regiment, the first squadron being run into and
somewhat disorganized. I called upon Captain John P. White, whose squadron
was in front of mine, to charge the enemy, who were emerging from the woods in
large numbers, and shooting the panic-stricken trainmen. The First Jersey was
doing excellent service in the road and to the left of it. I ordered my squadron
to draw sabers, and moving to the right of the road,^ charged the advancing
enemy, the officers and men of the broken squadron, jt>ining us. General Davies
asked Colonel Avery what ofTjcer was leading that charge, and, when told, re-
marked that he would probably get all the fighting he wanted. We ca])tured a
large number of prisoners, and had a lively chase after a Confederate stand of
colors. The bearer succeeded in crossing a deep ditch, thus saving the colors.
Then the Grays rallied, and we were compelled to call for help. They came

zu^rzK.

CAVALFO" GENERALS OF THE ARMY OF
THE POTOMAC.

1865 ACCOUNT BY LIEUTENANT REYNOLDS OP COMPANY A. 257

promptly, and again we charged the rebels across the field ; then we were in turn
driven back across the ravine. Meantime the fight along the road was very hot,
the First Jersey and our Regiment being mdst warmly engaged, the Twenty-fourth
New York being in the field to our right. Re-enforcements were constantly com-
ing from the woods to the assistance of the rebels in the road, which they made
desperate efforts to clear. We took quite a number of prisoners and several
colors.

In the charge made by the rebs on the road, quite a number of them were cut
off. Lieutenant Reynolds, of Company A, took a prisoner, who, in passing his
gun, discharged it full in Reynolds's face, the bullet just grazing his head.

Harris Daniels, of Company F, gave chase to a reb, and when close upon him
another comrade came to the assistance of the rebel, and Daniels was compelled
to do the flying act. A brother of Daniels came upon the scene and rushed to
the rescue. As he was a farrier, he had only a revolver, and that was empty. But
he dealt one of the fellows a tremendous blow with it, and threw it at the other
one*s head as he put spurs to his horse and sped away.

The Regiment lost a number in killed and wounded in this affair.

Lieutenant Xorman A. Reynolds, of Company A, writes in regard
to Farmville :

The wounding of Captain Perry at Sailor's Creek the day before left me the
only commissioned officer in the squadron. The First Brigade was following
the Second Brigade, with our Regiment in advance, Company A leading. We saw
that the Second Brigade had met with disaster in front, and Colonel Avery turned
the column into the open field at the left of the road, and, bringing the Regiment
into line, rode toward the left. I had just got my squadron into line as General
Davies rode up with his escort and asked, " WTiat regiment is this ? " I replied,
" Tenth New York." lie ordered me to charge with it. I immediately gave the
command, " Forward I " and then, making a half-wheel, charged diagonally across
the road, meeting the rebels on the right side of the road, General Davies and his
escort charging with us. Colonel Avery followed immediately with the rest of
the Regiment. In this encounter 1 became engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle
with a rebel. As we came together he fired his carbine, which I grasped with my
left hand and turned aside, the contents passing by me. I jerked the gun from
him just as one of our boys struck him over the head, felling him to the ground.
I took him prisoner, together with a fine horse fully equipped.

Thomas ^IcElligott, quartermaster-sergeant of Company D, makes
mention of this engagement as follows :

Sergeant Philip Ilerraan, of Company D. was killed at the battle of Farm-
ville, April 7, 1805, while attempting the capture of a rebel battle-flag. Riding
up to the rebel standard-bearer he grasped the staff and endeavored to wrench it
from him, when another rebel coming up shot Herman in the right shoulder. lie
fell from his horse, which galloped away. After the fight, with the assistance of
other comrades, I took him back to a barn which was used as a hospital, and there
he died the following morning, Orderly Sergeant Gifford remaining with him con-
stantly. Herman had captured many prisoners, including one major.
17

258 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18C5

Edward Adam, of Company I, furnishes this story of devotion to

a wounded comrade :

> t

At Farmville, April 7th, we occupied a hill, the Confederates having a battery
on another hill to our left, from which they shelled us. On the hill where we
were was a farm-house with a barn near by. There were about a dozen men be-
longing to our Regiment behind the barn, all mounted. A sergeant belonging to
some other regiment, who was with us, rode out a few feet to make observations
■ and was shot. I dismounted and ran to his assistance, and, although in plain
view of the enemy, was not fired upon. 1 tried to raise the Sergeant to his feet,
but he would fall back limp and helpless to the ground. A lieutenant, whom 1
did not know, dismounted and came to my assistance ; and placing the wounded
man on the Lieutenant's horse we started, one on each side of the horse, the poor
fellow clinging to my shoulder, while the officer held to him on the opposite side.
The wound which I had received at Dinwiddle had not yet healed, and while it
did not trouble me much when riding it was very painful to walk upon. In going
down the hill the horse stepped so rapidly I feared I could not keep up, my foot
hurt me so much ; but we at length reached the foot of the hill, and taking tlie
wounded man off laid him on a blanket and the surgeons took him in charge, to
one of whom he gave his silver watch and to the other ten dollars in money. A
few moments later his spirit took its flight and I started to return to the barn,
where I had left my horse. 1 soon met him with a stranger on his back. I de-
manded my horse, and on a refusal to surrender him I produced my empty re-
volver by way of persuasion, and the horse was instantly turned over to me. I
think the fellow saw shoot in my eye — but it was all in my eye — the gun had
none.

A Confederate cavalryman, writing of the Farmville affair, says :

The next morning, April 7th, found us still acting as the rear-guard, and
from the High Bridge on to Farmville there v;as a constant skirmish with the
enemy's advance. They moved slowly and we were kept in observation. Mean-
while a part of Mahone's division had prepared for their reception at a little
church near Farmville, and we retired behind our infantry line there. Just at
the point where the road crossed the Farmville road there was a blockr.de ; nearly
all the wagons and trains were hopelessly stuck in the nnid.

General R. E. Lee was resting quietly at this place, looking over a map, with
many officers of high rank grouped around him or dismounted near at hand. As
we approached the spot a heavy C(ilumn of Federal cavalry was seen coming at a
charge, evidently bent on capturing the trains. Before they could reach the posi-
tion, however, a regiment of Rosser's old brigade and a part of jMunford's com-
mand charged the flank of the Federal column, dispersing the whole force and
capturing General Irvin Gregg and bringing him a prisoner before General Lee.
Our brigade went on over to the left and picketed that flank all the night. The
end was now near. During the night the blockade was relieved and the trains of
the army placed on a parallel road.*

♦ Another Confederate writer, General T. T. Munford, says in the Philadel-
phia Weekly Times of May 17, 1884 : " I had been covering the rear with my di-

1865 THE NINTH OP APRIL, 1865. 259

After the Farmville fight the Regiment recrossed the river, and,
marching toward Lynchburg, bivouacked about midnight.

Custer and Merritt moved up the railroad on the morning of the
8th, followed by the Second Division, the Tenth moving out about 8
A. M. Custer's boys captured four trains of cars laden with supplies
for Lee's famishing army, besides twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hos-
pital train, and a large number of wagons. That the already disheart-
ened Confederates might have no rest, General Sheridan directed that
skirmishing be kept up during the night. General Sheridan says in
his Memoirs, vol. ii, page 190 ;

Meanwhile the captured trains had been taken charge of by locomotive engi-
neers, soldiers of the command, who were delighted, evidently, to get back at their
old calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, creating
much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching with the whistles
that I was on the point of ordering the cars burned. They finally wearied of
their fun, however, and ran the trains off to the east, toward General Ord's
column.

April 9, 1865 — the day of deliverance after years of travail —
was Sunday. The church-bells throughout the quiet and peaceful
hamlets and cities of the far-oif homes were calling the people to
their devotions, where prayers would ascend for that success to the
Union arms which later in the day would be celebrated by the joyful
ringing of these sam.e bells. The Tenth moved out at 6 A. M., and
with the Second Division, under command of General Davies, and the
First Brigade, under command of Colonel Avery, marched to the left,
and soon began skirmishing. General Sheridan says :

Crook, who with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left,
covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as practicable
without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to contest with obstinacy the
enemy's advance.*

That at least a portion of Crook's troops did " contest with obsti-
nacy the enemy's advance" can be attested by the members of the
Tenth, the Regiment uniting in some spirited charges, and assisting
to repel counter-charges. In the last charge made by the Regiment,
but a few moments prior to the display of the white flag on the rebel

vision for se%'eral days, and confess I had had but little fun in it. Many a hard
knock had my good men received. General Gregfg's Federal cavalry made a dash
at the train of wagons we were guarding. The Third Virginia Cavalry happened
to be in his front. lie dashed in too far and was captured by that regiment."
* Personal Memoirs of P. II. Sheridan, vol. ii, p. 193.

260 HISTORY OF THE TENTH llEGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 18G5

lines, Lieutenant N. A. Reynolds became cut oS. by the impetuosity
with which he charged, and was ordered to surrender, but, spurring
his horse, he ran the gantlet and reached our lines, with a gunsliot-
wound in his arm and another in his thumb.

Captain John J. Van Tuyl had repeatedly said he would never be
taken alive, and those who were acquainted with the brave little Cap-
tain of Company K knew that his words were not those of a bragga-
docio ; but when the time came to view the promised land through
the barrel of a navy revolver, " why," the Captain said, " it was the
easiest thing in the world to surrender." Here is how it occurred, in
his own words :

In view of the Regiment's having been pretty badly cut up in the fights of the
last three days, it was assigned an " easy phiec " on the 9th of Aprih It was sent
out on the flank to hold a road, while the rest of the cavalry were holding tlie rebel
army in check until our infantry could get up. We were congratulating ourselves
on escaping one fight, when we were suddenly assailed by Rosser's entire division.
Sending back for re-enforcements, the First Pennsylvania and First New Jersey
were sent to our assistance. In the charge which followed I was carried too far,
and was gathered in by the rebels. I gave them a good run for it down the niil-
road track, but my horse bolted at a cattle-guard, where a mule had got stuck,
and, before I could jump off, a dozen of the rebels wore on me, each one trying to
get the muzzle of his revolver in my face, and all crying in chorus, "Surrender!"
with the usual aflBx that had a more familiar than respectable sound, and I sur-
rendered. Lee and I surrendered about the same time. After robbing me of
everything and abusing me shamefully, they finally set out on the march, taking
me with them nearly to Lynchburg. After dark, I jumped from my horse aud
escaped, making my way back for a distance, when I gave out and I was kindly
cared for by a lady and her two daughters. The lady had a husband and two
sons in Pickett's division. They were much relieved when I told tliem they were
probably safe — in Washington — as we had captured the whole division.

My captors told me while marching along that they were hunting for Custer's
or Gregg's division. I told them if they chanced to meet one regiment from
either of these divisions they would whip that motley mob in short order. I
finally joined the Regiment on the 13th at Burkesville.

The scenes attending the surrender of General Lee have been so
frequently told that they are familiar to all. In the culmination of
all for which the brave Army of the Potomac had struggled for years,
the cavalry did their full sliare and came in for a large measure of
the glory attending that great event ; and of that cavalry Davies's bri-
gade was active to the last, the Tenth Xew York gallantly battling to
the end, having a number wounded after the white flag Avas up.

While the Second Cavalry Division was engaged with the enemy
on the extreme left, General Sheridan was disposing Custer's and

1865 GENERAL LEE'S SURRENDER. 261

Devins's divisions for attack. When the formations had heen com-
pleted, and the command for *a sweeping charge over the grassy
slope was about to be made, General Sheridan says : " An aide-de-
camp galloped up to me with the word from Custer : ' Lee has sur-
rendered, do not charge ; the white flag is up ! ' Orders were given to
complete the formation, but not to charge." * General Sheridan,
while on his way to meet Generals Gordon and Wilcox, of the Con-
federate army, was fired on by Gary's brigade of South Carolina Cav-
alry ; and w^hen Lieutenant Allen, of Sheridan's staff, reached the con-
tumacious General Gary with orders from General Gordon to cease
firing, he replied, with something of a dramatic air, " South Carolini-
ans never surrender ! " and immediately made Lieutenant Allen a
prisoner. But Custer, having heard the firing, moved out promptly
to ascertain its cause ; and proceeded to bring the recalcitrant last-
ditch General to terms. The flight of Gary's brigade followed.
Lieutenant Allen was thus released. The last gun had been fired,
and the last charge made on the Virginia campaign.

This little episode occurred during the meeting between General
Sheridan and the Confederate Generals Wilcox and Gordon, to ar-
range for a cessation of hostilities, pending the arrival of General
Grant, to whom General I^ee was ready to surrender the Confederate
Army of jSTorthern Virginia. On the arrival of the Lieutenant-Gen-
eral the formal surrender was made at about 3 p. m., and the news
was soon after sent broadcast over the land to gladden the hearts of
the loyal people. The Union soldiers held as prisoners of war by the
Army of Northern Virginia were released; and came marching back to
our camps, headed by the tall, familiar figure of the gallant General
John Irvin Gregg.

And now rations, not sabers, were drawn for the boys in gray, and
a disposition to fraternize followed long years of fratricide.

With the surrender of General Lee and the Army of Northern
Virginia the War of the Rebellion was practically ended.

Those who had for so many years shared in the fortunes and mis-
fortunes of the now victorious Army of the Potomac, lay down to
rest that memorable night Avith prayers of thanksgiving to Him who
had given them the victory, conscious of having well and faithfully
discharged their duties.

The total number of officers and enlisted men surrendered by
General Lee, on the 9th of April, according to the records of the War

* Personal Memoirs of P. II. Sheridan, vol. ii, pp. 193, 194.

262 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY. 1865

Department, was 28,356, of which 1,78G were cavalry and 2,586 artil-
lery. Tliere were but 287, all told, in Eweirs corps surrendered,
nearly all of this corps having been captured three days before at
Sailor's Creek. The total losses in the Army of the Potomac, in
killed, wounded, and missing, from March 29 to April 9, 1865, was
9,944, of which 1,151 killed and wounded and 339 missing were from
the cavalry.

The aimless march back toward Petersburg was commenced by
the cavalry the day following the surrender. The Tenth moved out
at 8 A. M., and at night encamped at Prospect Station. Pickets were
established as usual, but the duty which but a few hours before was
fraught with so much danger and importance was now but mere
form.

On the 11th the march was resumed and continued to Prince Ed-
ward Court-House, stopping at Burkesville Junction on the 12th and
Nottovvay Court-House on the 13th. While at the latter place the
sad news of the assassination of-President Lincoln was received. At
a time when such great and disturbing events were crowding fast
upon one another, when denials followed rumors and facts were per-
verted in the interest sometimes of stock-gambling operators, it is not
to be wondered at that the first report of the great calamity should have
been received with little credence. Of course, the President hadn't
been assassinated; it was too improbable for belief. But the story
was repeated until tlie repetitions finally assumed shape, and the
dreadful fact was established that the great and good man had been
murdered. What a sudden transition from glory to gloom ! Strong
men wept ; crystal drops, fresh from lacerated hearts, stood trembling
on bronzed cheeks as the story of the awful tragedy w^as repeated.
Strange admixture — sadness and anger — yet these were the elements
which seemed to struggle for supremacy in the hearts of the brave
veterans : sadness that one so wise and good — the nation's father —
should have been taken away ; anger witli the man who had perpe-
trated tlic deed and the motive which prompted it.

Camp was broken and the march taken up again on the 18th of
April, and Petersburg was reached at 2 P. M. the same day. Here
Lieutenant Thomas W. Johnson, of Company M, an exchanged pris-
oner, rejoined the Hegimcnt.

On the 24th the cavalry started with the Sixth Corps to join Gen-
eral Sherman's army in North Carolina, to assist in initiating General
Johnston in the surrender business.

After reaching South Boston, on the Dan River, one hundred and

1865 GENERAL SHERIDAN'S FAREWELL.

twenty miles from Petersburg, on the 2Sth, General Sheridan re-
ceived a dispatch announcing the surrender of General Johnston, and
the command returned to Petersburg, where it arrived on the 3d of
May. General Sheridan started for Washington the day before by
cars from Black and Whites Station to City Point, and thence by
steamer. It proved to be his final separation from the cavalry of the
Army of the Potomac, for on his arrival in Washington he was im-
mediately ordered to the Gulf Department to corral the recalcitrant
Kirby Smith, who had subsided, however, before Sheridan's arrival.
That he keenly felt the disappointment at not being permitted to ride
at the head of his old, command in the grand review he frankly ad-
mits in these words ;

Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to par-
ticipate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left Washington without an
opportunity of seeing again in a body the men who while under my command had
gone through so many trials and unremittingly pursued and assailed the enemy
from the beginning of the campaign of 1864 till the white flag came into their
hands at Appomattox Court-House.*

General Avery was in command of the brigade, which remained
encamped near Petersburg until the 10th of May, when it was or-
dered to Washington overland. Acting Quartermaster Oscar Woodruff
was detailed to take the brigade " truck " to Washington by steamer.
The Regiment proceeded in a heavy rain the first day, but after an
uneventful march reached Alexandria on the 16th at 11 a. m. On
the 21st it was ordered across the Potomac to Bladensburg. Soon
after starting a rain set in, and the Tenth left- Virginia as it had en-
tered it nearly three years before—in a rain-storm. Going into camp
near Fort Lincoln, clothing was issued to the men of the Regiment
the same night, the work continuing until after midnight, prepara-
tory for the grand review.

Every man was up early on the 23d and preparing his toilet for
the day's parade. General Avery was in command of the brigade.
Major Blyun commanding the Regiment, which was assigned to the
advance of the brigade in the grand review. Moving out of camp
with Major Blynn, Surgeon Clark, Assistant Surgeons Catlin and
Lansing, Acting Adjutant George Stevens, and Acting Quartermaster
Oscar Woodruff, at the head of the Regiment, the Tenth united with
the brigade at Capitol Hill, and at 10 A. m. passed the Capitol into
Pennsylvania Avenue, where myriads of Sunday-school children were

Personal Memoirs of P. II. Sheridan, vol. ii, p. 210.

264 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. I8G0

in waiting with flowers, with which they strewed the streets and be-
decked the officers and men. , One little miss threw a large wreath
over the neck of General Avery's horse. General Custer's division
presented a striking appearance, every man wearing a red neck-scarf
with long, flowing ends. The column passed through the solid mass
of people, and when about Twentieth Street the brigade crossed to
H Street, and thence back to camp, which was reached about 4 p. M.

Many of the men obtained passes to go to the city the next day,
the 24th, and view the grand parade of General Sherman's army.

Camp was moved about a mile north of Bladensburg on the 25 th,
and four days later the Regiment marched to Cloud's Mills and en-
camped.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sceva joined the Regiment and took command
on the 31st, and Captain Farnsworth and Lieutenant Davis came on
the following day.

Colonel Avery, who had been appointed a brigadier-general of
volunteers by brevet, on the 2d- of June, received his commission at
Cloud's Mills, on the 6th. '

By Special Order, No. 22, Headquarters Cavalry Corps, dated June
15, 1865, brevet Major-General Henry E. Davies, Jr., was relieved
from duty with the Cavalry Corps, at his own request. General Crook
took occasion to express himself as follows on the retirement of Gen-
eral Davies :

The Major-General commanding, in parting with General Davies, can not
refrain from expressing his high appreciation of the faithful and valuable service
he has rendered to his country.

In camp and in field his troops have always been ready for duty and reliable.
His brilliant charges at Jetersville and Sailor's Creek will always be remembered
as some of the most important contributions toward the destruction of the enemy's
army.

General Davies had been identified with the Cavalry Corps from
its organization. His brilliant services in the Second Division of
Cavalry had done much toward establishing a reputation for it, of
which every member took a just pride.

By an order from the War Department, dated June 17, 1865, the
Tenth and Twenty-fourth I^ew York Cavalry Regiments were to be
consolidated, under the designation of the First Provisional Regiment
New York Volunteer Cavalry. ^

Under this order the transfer took place from June 20tli to the
24th, the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel B. F. Sceva, command-
ing the consolidated Regiment, bearing date June 20th. The transfer

1863 FIRST PROVISIONAL NEW YORK CAVALRY. 2G5

rolls of the two regiments bear date July 10th, which was probably
the date of the completion of the rolls. The several dates, no doubt,
cover the time of the actual transfer.

The history of the Tenth Kew York Cavalry properly ends with
its being merged in the First Provisional New York Cavalry.

The official report of Lieutenant-Colonel Sceva, of the latter Eegi-
ment, is given, as follows :

Report of the First Provisional New York Cavalry, >

Aggregate strength present 1,216

sick . 20

Effective strength present • • .1,190

absent • • .659

Original muster of eight companies Tenth New York Cavalry, November 25, 1861.

Remuster " " " December 31, 1863.

Original muster of four " " October 29, 1802.

Remuster " " " Never.

Original muster of Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, January 26, 1864.

Remuster, Never.

Date of consolidation, Jvme 20, 1865.

Respectfully submitted. B. F. Sceva,

Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Regiment.

The foregoing Special Order exhibits the organization of the new
regiment:

Headquarters Cavalry Corps,

Dbpabtmekt or Washiis'gton, June 27, 1865.
Special Orders, No. 32.

Extract,

2. The following-named officers having been recommended by the division
commander to form the roster of the officers for the First New York Provisional
Cavalry, organized by virtue of paragraph 72, of Special Order No. 312, A. G. O.,
War Department, of June 17, 1805, are hereby announced appointed, and will be
obeyed and respected accordingly :

Colonel ^r. H. Avery. Asst. Surgeon Oliver Lanning.

Lieut.-Colonel B. F. Sceva. Asst. Surgeon C. A. Catlin.

Major W. A. Snyder. R. Q. M., B. F. Sweet.

Major James ^I. Reynolds. R. C. S., I. Bannister.

Major W. L. Scoville. Adjutant Frank J. Shaver.

Surgeon Charles L. George. Chaplain C. M. Perry.

Captain W. R. Perry, Co. A. 1st Lieut. J. B. Buffum, Co. B.

1st Lieut. John E. Cowlcs, " « 2d Lieut. Frank McDonald, " "

2d Lieut. Theodore Hitchcock, « " Captain E. Ilartwcll, Co.C.

Captain James II. 3IcLaughlin, Co. B. 1st Lieut. G. H. Stevens, " "

266 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGLMENT OF CAVALRY. 1865

2d Lieut. W. A. Seely,
Captain Edward Pollard,
1st Lieut James W. Cooloy,
2d Lieut, Thomas Coyne,
Captain John P. White,
1st Lieut. \V. A. Warren,
2d Lieut. H. W. Layton,
Captain I). Pleteher,
1st Lieut. Martin Muller,
2d Lieut. James Harrison,
Captain L. J. Cole,
1st Lieut. H. H. Pennoyer,
2d Lieut. George Wallace,
Captain Thomas Kennedy,

Co. C.
Co. D.

Co. E.

« ((

(( ((
Co. P.

u i(

Co. G.

Co. H.

1st Lieut. Oscar Woodruff, Co. H.

2d Lieut. John Bodomer, " "

Captain Charles R. Button, Co. I.

1st Lient. A. Brookins, « "
2d Lieut. Norman A. Reynolds, " "

Captain Albert Thomas, Co. K.

1st Lieut. Truman C. White, " "

2d Lieut. A. D. Sargeant, " "

Captain D. Getman, Jr., Co. L.

1st Lieut. Nelson Washburn, . '* "

2d Lieut. T. A. Dunbar, " «

Captain T. W. Johnson, Co. M.

1st Lieut. Miles Sullivan, « *'

2d Lieut. Conrad T. Dollar, « "

3. The First Provisional New York Cavalry will be immediately mustered
into service, and all officers and non-commissioued officers made supernumerary
by the consolidation of the Tenth and Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry will be
immediately mustered out.

By command of Major-General Crook.

W. Harper, Major and A. A. A. Q,

The officers rendered supernumerary by the consolidation were :

Tenth New Torh Cavalry :
Major M. H. Blynn.
Surgeon H. K. Clarke.
Chaphiin Joseph H. Bradley.
Captain H. E. Farnsworth.
Captain Norman W. Torrey.
Captain John T. Pratt.
Captain John J. Van Tuyl.
Captain William E. Graves.
1st Lieut. Edward Hinckley.
1st Lieut. Josh W. Davis.
1st Lieut. A. J. Thompson.
2d Lieut. Calvin Noyes.
2d Lieut. J. A. Edson.

Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry :
Colonel W. C. Newberry.
Lieut.-Col. C. B. Coventry-.
Major Albert Taylor.
Major Charles E. Martin.
Captain Eugene Smith.
Captain H. A. Grant.
Captain Charles A. Taylor.
Captain Edward A. Tallman.
Captain George F. Raulston.
Captain Abram Tucker.
Captain F. L. Brown.
1st Lieut. W. W. Cook.
1st Lieut. ^liehael'McGraw.
1st Lieut. A. J. Hcffron.
2d Lieut. J. Hutchinson.
2d Lieut. George Curtiss.
2d Lieut. Charles L. Pratt.

The First New York Provisional Cavalry left Virginia for Syra-
cuse, N. Y., on the 20th of July, reaching the latter place on the
22d of the same month, where the men received their final pay, and
were mustered out of service on the 3d and 4th of August, 18G5.

While awaiting muster-out, some of the men appeared desirous of

1865

FINAL FAREWELLS.

267

exhibiting to the citizens their fighting qualities — a gentle glimmer
of the dying embers of a four-years', struggle — resulting in unsettling
the state of society in a city which depended, to a great extent, on its
salt, rather than its police force, for preservation.* The distillery
proved more effective than the artillery in producing " disorder " in
the ranks of the First New York Provisional Cavalry.

Having received their final pay, the men departed for their
widely separated homes to engage once more in the peaceful pur-
suits of life, honored citizens of a country made better by their sac-
rifices, a country, welcomed and respected among the nations of the
earth because of the patriotism of its people in maintaining free
government and clearing their land of the one foul blot of slavery.

* Syracuse at that time had but three police officers — uiiuniformed.

f:\

C:^N. JottN 2l;.=o.;D.

CiSN. A. N. DCJ;

Col. P = ?iCY W-VNDMAM.

[Fhsi Af'ew Jersey Co v.)

^-:n Ct- \\„=o D=\ N

{Colonel 81 /i Pa. Cav.)

fx ^^

—i :-.. J. ;-\-,r.^/.o-rr'. ;^,;-cti-.-. 3x/-. •:;'^N.'::- M.5r:.;-
( A V/.V./ 47/ /,>// \^bnrg) ( Colonel Ft rst Ma ,ne Ca :> )

Col<»iel Tiventy-hoitrtli .V. }'. ('(/.'.)

CAVALRY GENERALS OF THE ARMY OF
THE POTOMAC.

EEGIMENTAL EOSTER.

[The designation N. Y. is omitted following the places located in the State of New York,
that State being meant unless otherwise designated.]

FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonels.

Ayery, M. Henry. — Promoted from lieutenant-colonel November 30, 18C4,
with rank from November 29, 18G4; mustered in December 28, 1864; transferred
June 24, 18G5, to First N. Y. Pro v. Cav. Brevet brigadier-general, U. S. V.

Matthew Henry Avery was born in Middletown Springs, Vt., in 183G. He was the son of
a Congregational minister, a native of Groton, Conn., who descended from Christoj^her
Avery, of Salisbury, England, leaving England and coming over with Governor John Wiu-
throp on the transport Arabella, landing at Salem, Mass., June 12, 1630, and settling in
Gloucester. He purchased lands in New London, and was made a freeman of the colony in
1699. His grandson, James Avery, married Governor Winthrop's granddaughter, and settled
in that part of New London which afterward became the town of Groton. Here he built the
*' Hive of the Averys," which is still standing, now owned and occupied by his descendant,
James D. Avery. He was twelve times elected to the General Court, and was assistant in the
county court. He had twenty-one grandsons, and was properly the founder of the large
Avery family scattered through the United States.

His mother's name was Baldwin. Her ancestors also came over from England and
settled in Connecticut. The family genealogy is published in book form, quarto size, and is
noted for the largo number of eminent la\\'yers and jddges on its pages.

The hfe of the subject of this sketch, from the time that he was six years of age tintil
he entered the army in 1S61, was passed in Syracuse, N. Y. His education, begun in the
public schools, was finished in a noted classical school of that city.

The only business in which he was engaged on his own account was that of books and
stationery, in connection with a news emporium. He was a verj' popular young man, and
enjoyed a largo circle of acquaintance, his warm heart, genial manners, and hapi)y temper-
ament winning all hearts.

Immediately following the battle of Bull Run, animated by a lofty sense of patriotism,
young Avery cast about for the best manner by which he might serve his country. On
learning that authority had been granted for the recruiting of a cavalry regiment in the
State, he made ajiplication for admission with a company, and opened a recruiting office in
Syracuse early in AuKTi.st. The company was mustered into service September 27, 1801, and
reached Elmira the next day, the first company of the new regiment in rendezvous. Captain
Avery's efTlciency ami natural military endowments early attracted the attention of General
Van Valkenburg. who ajjpointed him to the command of the barracks, and a few days later
he was chosen by Die line officers of the Regiment as senior major. He was the only field
oflftcer who served with the Regiment from its muster-in to its muster-out of service. He was
promoted to colonel December 28, 1864, and was brevetted a brigadier-general, with rank from
the 13th day of March, 1865, "for gallantry in action at Sailor's Creek, Va., April G, 1SG5, and
for faithful and meritorious service."

On Uie consolidation of the Tenth and Twenty-fourth N. Y. Cavalry Regiments, forming

270 HISTORV OP THE TENTU REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

?8^- Y. if "^7^"' ^ P'^ ''°" ''•^^ Shamburg to Miller Farm, on Oil Creek Pa fn
N. -i ., rt ither he had gone for treatment, on the 1st of September, 1881
nm^"-"lS«"iir'"~w"""'T ^""° 'i«»'^"'''>t-'=oI°neI. Commissioned Peb-

ma.^i:;tjr^,:h^':f"4^::;^:^^:'^^^^^^^^^^ Hethe„

under date of October 23 18G.3 from wbir^h.w J >, f ^^ exchange of prisoners,

was granted leave of absence for ten dars on the ISth of fL .! !u followmg, and

He was mustered out and honorably discharged the service December R isri k

from'Slf fo" ^n"'^° ""T'T'' T"'""°"^'^ •'''""''^ ^- '««2. with rank
ise? tnrT /^l \^<''! "'"^f^'-'^i ■" January 18, 1863; discliargod April 3

must'efcd. ' '"'■ "'■ ^- ""■ ''■• --"""-ioned June 10, 1863; not

Of Mr'ZT'lr^r"rm:Sa".rorr'"^'"'? ^-'—•<"V.T^nia.and Rebecca Cookey,
w«hh>m.o,a.ne.home. Hebought.Ur^^SlL'aX rb^earseTfrflfrr^

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.-FIELD AND STAFF. 271

The place where he settled received the name of Lemraon's Corners, which it st 111 bears. There
John C. Lemmon was born in 180G, and after attending district school finished his education
at Hobart Colle;,'e, in Geneva. He married Miss Maria Breyfogle, the daughter of a wealthy
farmer, and a descendant of Muhlenburg, of Pennsylvania, whose statue is in Statuary Hall,
in the Capitol, as one of Cleneral Washington's officers. 'Sot liking a farmer's life, he removed
to Waterloo, S<'neca County, N. Y., and became a merchant. In 1834 he was commissioned
major in the Twenty-third Regiment of Artillery, N. Y. S. JI. In 1845 he went to Buffalo, and
engaged in the milling business, and on the 10th day of June, ISOI, applied for permission to
raise a regiment of volunteers in the State of New York. On the 3d of August, 18G1, he re-
ceived authority from the AVar Department to recruit a regiment, and at once entered upon
the work. This was the regiment afterward designated as the Tenth New York Cavalry—
(Porter Guards). While in the field in 1SG2, he was thrown from his horse, and received an
injury to his knee, resulting in a slight lameness, from which he never fully recovered. It
caused him much pain and trouble, and no doubt hastened his death, which occurred in Wash-
ington, D. C, in February, 1875.

Lieutenant-Colonels.

Ayery, M. Henry.— Promoted from major, April 19, 1864, with rank from
June 11, 18G3 ; not mustered as lieutenant-colonel. '

Iryine, William.— Age forty-one; commissioned from Elmira, January 7,

1863, with rank from December 10, 1861 ; mustered in January 18, 18G2 ; pro-
moted to colonel, February 23, 1864, not mustered as colonel; mustered out
December 6, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service.

Scera, Benjamin F, — Promoted from major, March 24, 1865, with rank from
March 1, 1865; wounded in action at Dinwiddle Court-House, Va., March 31,
1865 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Pro v. Cav. Brevet colonel X. Y. Y.

Tremain, Frederick L. — Age twenty-one; commissipn dated Xovember 30,

1864, with rank from November 29, 1864 ; joined for duty and mustered in before
Petersburg, Va., January 30, 1865; mortally wounded at Hatcher's Run, Va.,
February 6, 1865 ; died February 8, 1865, at Cavalry Corps Hospital. Promoted
from captain and assistant adjutant-general U. S. V. Brevet colonel N. Y. V.

Frederick Lyman Tremain was the eldest child of Lyman and Helen Cornwall Tremain.
He was born at Durham, Greene County, N. Y., on the 13th of June, 1843, and was therefore
twenty -one years, seven months, and twenty-four days old at the time of his death, which
occurred at City Point Hospital, Va., on the 8th of February, 1865, from gunshot-wound re-
ceived at the battle of Hatcher's Rxm, Va., two days before.

He was d.-scended on both father and mother's side from good Revolutionary stock, his
paternal great-grandfather, Nathaniel Tremain, having served honorably in the War for In-
dependence, his maternal great-grandfather. Captain Daniel Cornwall, having also acquitted
himself creditably in the same struggle.

Frederick's father, the Hon. Lyman Tremain, of Albany, was one of the leading citizens
of the Empire State, both in his legal attainments and political standing. In 185.3 Frederick
removed with his father's family froni Durham to the city of Albany, where he continued to
reside until his death. There he attended the principal schools, until the spring of ISTjS, when
he entered the chissical school for boys at Great Barrington, Mass., and thence in 1859 to
a school of the same character at "NValnut Hill, Geneva, passing from this latter school to
Hobart College, Geneva, in ISGO, where he continued his studies for nearly two years. He
obtained an honorable dismissal from Ho>)art College to permit his entering his country's
service, and at once commenced recruiting for the One Hundred and Thirteenth New York
Volunteers, in the city of Albany, in the summer of 18(30. and was appointed adjutant of the
regiment, which he accompanied to Washington, where he was soon after tendered a position
as lieutenant-colonel of a colored regiment, but declined it, preferring the appointment of
assistant adjutant-general with the rank of captain, which was offered him. In his new posi-
tion, which seemed so well suited to him, he reported for duty to General Henry E. Davies, Jr.,

272 HISTORY OF THE TENTH HEGI^ri-.NT OF CAVALRY.

commanding the First Brigade of the Tliird Cavalry Diri.sion about the 1st of November,
1863, seizing with thnt brigade, except for a short time, till his death, particiiiating in all its
marche-s and battles, and making friends constantly by liiri: genial and happy disposition and
devotion to duty. *

The beginning of the year that vras to bring the war to a close, young Tremain was tendered
and accepted the ijosition of lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth. Although his service with it
•was brief, he was Ix^ked up to with respect and admiration. AL Dabney's Mills, or Hatcher's
Run, on the 6th of February, 1S65, the llegiment was seriouslj' engaged in battle, when General
Davies having Ixen wounded, the conunand of the briga-le devolved on Colonel Avery, who
sent word to Lieuten;int-Colonel Tremain that the command of the Regiment belonged to him.
He was leading a portion of the Regiment on the left of the line, at the moment of the mes-
senger's arrival, an.i. turning partly around in conversation witli him, he received the fatal
wound from a bullet in his hip. lie was imniediatel}' tak<,>n up and borne to an ambulance,
in which he was conveyed to the field hospital, and the following day to the City Point Hos-
pital, where he died about 5 p. m,, on the 8th.

i Majors.

Ayery, M. Henry.— Promoted from captain, Company A, Januaiy 7, 1862,
with rank from December 12, 1861 ; promoted to lieutenant-colonel, April 19, 1864 ;
not mustered as lieutenant-colonel ; promoted to colonel, November 30, 1864.

Blynn, Martin H. — Promoted from captain, Company B, November 21, 1864,
•with rank from Octoljer 19, 1864; mustered in Decembor 13, 1864; mustered, out
June 23, I860, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary. Brevet lieutenant-colo-
nel, N. Y. V.

Martin H. Blynn was born in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y,, January 5, 1837. In 1841
his parents removed to Rose, Wayne County, N. Y., whtre most, of his youthful days were
spent. He attended Fall-?y Seminary, in Fulton, N. Y., in 1603, and Fort Edward Institute in
1855 and 1856, from wliich institution he v. as graduated. He taur^ht district schools for some
time. In 1S62 he received a warrant as hospital steward in tlie Tenth New York Cavalry, and
soon after a commission in the line, and thence rose to the rank of major.

After his muster-out of service, he resumed tlie study of medicine, graduating from I^ong
Island College Hospital in 1SG5. He was immediately thereafter appointed as acting assistant
surgeon in the regular army, and assigned to duty as medical quarantine officer at the port
of Hilton Head, S. C, where he remained until November 20, ISCG, when he retired from serv-
ice, and settled in Cicero, Onondaga County, N. Y., and took up the practice of medicine.
He died suddenly on the 10th of December, 1SS.3, at his home in Cicero.

Kemper, John II. — Ag-e twenty-seven ; promoted from private, Company E;
commissioned January 7, 1862, with rank from December 12, 1861 ; mustered in
December 23, 18G1 ; in hospital at Georf,'etown, D. C, from October 11, 1862, to
December 20, 1S02. with typhoid fever; resigned July 12, 1863, per Special Or-
der No. 104; re-entered service as captain, Company K, June 8, 1804.

Kennedy, George W. — Promoted from adjutant, April 29, 1864, with rank
from June 11, 1803 ; not mustered as major.

Reynolds, Jamos 31. — Promoted from captain, Company L, March 24, 1865,
"With rank from March 1, 1865 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Scera, Benjamin F. — Promoted from captain. Company F, November 21,
1804, with rank from October 20,1804; promoted to lieutenant-colonel, March
24, 1805.

Snyder, l^'illiam A.— -Promoted from captain, Company E, January 16,
1865, with rank from December 1,1804; mustered in January 30,1865; trans-
ferred June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet lieutenant-colonel N. Y. V.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— FIELD AND STAFF. 273

Waters, Alvah D.— Promoted from captain, Company L, December 23,
1862, with rank from same date; mustered in February 16, 1863; discharged
Octx)ber 7, 1863, on account of physical disability.

Weed, Theodore H.— Promoted from captain, Company B, July 31,1863,
with rank from July 13, 1863 ; mustered in October 8, 1863 ; mustered out Octo-
ber 10, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service.

Regimental Adjutants,

Kennedy, George W.— Promoted from hospital steward, October 21, 1862,
^ith rank from October 20, 1862 ; promoted to major, April 29, 1864 ; not mus-
tered as major; discharged as adjutant October 20, 1864, on account of disa-
bility.

Potter, William C— Detailed as regimental adjutant while first lieutenant.
Company A, November 25, 1861 ; appointed as adjutant on recommendation of
Lieutenant Cutting, of the regular army, for meritorious services as recruiting
officer.

Shaver, Frank J.— Promoted from regimental commissary December 19,
1864, with rank from December 12, 1864; mustered in December 24, 1864; pro-
moted captain, Company L, May 31, 1865; not mustered as captain; transferred
June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Car. as adjutant.

Stevens, George H.— Promoted from commissary. May 31, 1865; not mus-
tered as adjutant.

Battalion Adjutants,

Fitts, James Franklin. — Promoted from private. Company F, January 7,
1862, to rank from December 12, 1861 ; mustered out August 9, 1862, at Wash-
ington, D. C, as supernumerary.

James Franklin Fitts was born in Lockport, N. Y., in 1839, where his early life was passed
in attending public schools. He early in life manifested a literary taste, to which he gave free
rein, contributing to many of the leading magazines and newspapers of the country. He
studied law, au(i wa.s admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. He was one of the first to
enter the Tenth New York (or Porter Guards, as it was at the time called) from the section in
which he resided. He proved a most efficient and valuable addition to the Regiment, but be-
fore the latent qualities of the soldier were given an opportunity for display Congress en-
acted a law which took from the cavalry regiments in the service the battalion officers.
Lieutenant Fitts was at the time adjutant of the First Battalion of the Tenth, then encamped
near Washington. He promptly tendered his resignation, that he might connect himself with
another organization, and entered the One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Volunteers,
where his marke<l ability and conspicuous gallantry were recognized in rapid promotion,
reaching the rank of major in a short time. He was twice wounded — once at Port Hudson
and again at Winchester. After the close of the war he associated himself with Judge
Holmes, of Locki>ort, in the legal profession.

His most noted novels were The Parted Veil and A Modern Miracle. His longest boys'
story was Captain Kidd's Gold, published in the Boys' Home Library,

He was several times city attorney, and was attorney of the Board of Supervisors at the
time of his deatli. He was an active member of the G. A. R., and devoted to the interests of
the Union soldiers.

July 1, 1808, he married Miss Harriett Gooding, of Lockport, by whom he had six children.

Lemnion, William L. — Age twenty-three; commissioned from Elmira, Janu-
ary 7, 1863, to rank from Ddember 12, 1861 ; mustered in January 18, 1862 ; re-
signed August 1, 1862, per Special Order No. 52.
18

274 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

Regimental Quartermasters,

Field, Henry. — Detailed from Company i?, November 25, 1861 ; promoted to
captain, Company B, May 22, 1802.

Graves, TViHiam E. — Promoted from reg-imental quartermaster-sergeant
October 21, 1862, with rank from October 20, 1862 ; acting brigade quartermaster
from spring of 1864 to close of war ; promoted to captain. Company L, November
19,1864; not mustered as captain; mustered out as regimental quartermaster
June 30, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va. ; served as brigade quartermaster for more
than a year ; was in charge of all quartermaster property of the Cavalry Corps at
time of muster-out.^

Battalion Quartermasters.

Barney, Luther L. — Detailed from Company C from November 25, 1861, to
August, 1862.

Scera, Benjamin F. — Detailed from Company F from November 25, 1861,
to August, 1862, when he was returned to his company.

Regimental Commissaries.

Ayery, Amos D. — Promoted from regimental quartermaster-sergeant May
31, 1865, with rank from same date; not mustered as commissary.

Preston, Noble D. — Promoted from first lieutenant, Company E, February
9, 1863, with rank from November 30, 1802 ; mustered in August 2, 1863, to date
February 12, 1863 : severely wounded in action at Trevillian Station, Va., June
11, 1864; promoted to captain, Company A, July 8, 1864, on the following recom-
mendations :

Headquarters Tenth New York Cavalry, )
In the Field, June 21, 1864. )

Brigadier-General J. T. Sprague, Assistant Adjutant-General, State of New

York. — Sir : I would respectfully recommend First Lieutenant and Regimental

Commissary Noble D. Preston for Captain, Company A, of this Regiment, vice

John Ordner, killed in action at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864. I have

the honor to remain Your obedient servant,

M. H. Avery,

Major Commanding Tenth N. Y. Cavalry.

This recommendation bore the following indorsements :

Hjeadquarters First Brigade, Second Division Cavalry Corps, )
Camp on James Hiver, June 2G, 1864. f

Respectfully forwarded and recommended from personal knowledge of Lieu-
tenant Preston's good conduct and gallantry in action. I can request his ap-
pointment as one for the best interests of the service.

H. E. Da vies, Jr., Brigadier-General Commanding.

Headquarters Second Cavalry Division, June 26, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded, with the recommendation that this promotion be
made. Lieutenant Preston, for his general cfllciency as an ofiicer, and for gal-
lantry in a recent action, in which ho was severely wounded, is very deserving of
advancement. D. M. M. GifEoo,

Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding Second Cavalry Division.

REGIMENTAL ROSTELL— FIELD AND STAFF. 275

Lieutenant Preston served with credit to himself while under my command.
It gives me great pleasure to add my testimony to that of Generals Davies and
Gregg in regard to his bravery and effici(?ncy at all times.

P. n. Sheridan, Major-General U. S. A.

Shaver, Frank J. — Promoted from sergeant, Company L, July 9, 1864, with
rank from June 1, 1864 ; mustered in August 10, 1804 ; promoted to adjutant
December 19, 1864.

Stevens, George H.— Promoted from second lieutenant, Company C, Decem-
ber 19, 1804, with rank from December 13, 1804 ; mustered in December 24, 1804 ;
promoted to adjutant May 31, 1865 ; not mustered as adjutant ; transferred June
24, 1805, as first lieutenant to Company C, First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet captain
N. Y. V.

Whedon, Oscar P. — Promoted from second lieutenant, Company B, October
21, 1862, with rank from October 20, 1862 ; resigned November 1, 1862.

Surgeons.

Clarke, Henry K. — Promoted from assistant surgeon, November 13, 1863,
with rank from October 25, 1863 ; mustered out June 24, 1865, at Cloud's Mills,
Va., as supernumerary. Brevet lieutenant-colonel N. Y. V.

Henry K. Clarke was graduated from the Albany Medical College in March, 1862, and re-
ceived an appointment as Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth New York Cavalry on the joint
recommendations of the faculty of that institution and Major M. H. Avery.

Pease, Roger W. — Age thirty-three; commissioned January 7, 1862, with
rank from November 20, 1801 ; promoted to medical inspector of Cavalry Corps
February 25, 1803 ; aiipointed surgeon U. S. Volunteers, October 30, 1803. Bre-
vet lieutenant-colonel N. Y. V.

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Williams Pease was bom at Conway, Mass., May 31,
1828. . . . Dr. Pease was among the first to respond to the call of his State and country during
the late war for the suppression of the rebellion. He left a large and successful practice
which his skill and industry had gained him at Syracuse, and joined the Twelfth Regiment of
New York Volunteer Infantry as surgeon. This regimeht was connected with what was
afterward called the Anny of the Potomac. It was in the Fourth Brigade of the First Divis-
ion of McDowell's corps, and was in the advance at the commencement of the first campaign
of the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the first day's fight with the enemy at
Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 18G1, three days before the disastrous fight at Bull Run. The con-
test was a sanguinary one, and Dr. Pease had the honor of dressing the first wound caused by
the enemy in that army. The division was checked in its advance on that day by the fire of
the enemii-s' batteries. To silence them General David Tvler. commander of the division,
orderetl forwara the Fourth Brigade, including Captain Bracketfs squadron of the Second
United States Cavalrj-, and two twelve-pounder howitzers, commanded by Captain Ayres. One
of the first shots from the eiiemy's guns struck Sergeant Rowhan, of Captain Brackett's squad-
ron. As it was Surgeon Pease's fortune to be standing near the Wounded soldier at the time,
he had the satisfaction of dressing his wound, the first made that day.* Soon after this the
skirmishing became general.

• Fort Mclxrosn, Laredo, Texas, August 5, 1890.
N. D. pRESTdx, Esq.. Ilisforian Tenth ^'e^o York Cavalry.

Sir: In reply to your letter of the 2od ultimo, I have to say that a sergeant of
the Second Cavalry, serving under mv command, was severely wounded at the
battle of Blackburn's Ford, Va., on the 18th of Julv, 1801, the front part of his
thigh being nearly torn away. There was no medical ofhcer with my squadron

276 HISTORY OF THP: TKNTII REGLMi:XT OP CAVALRY.

Immediately after dressing Sergeant liowhan's woumls, '-:urj,'^^on Pease established a field
hospital in a ravine directly under fire of the enemy. Ar this place he dressed the wounds of
the heroic Lieutenant Lorain, of Sherman's b/ittery. TtJ^^ Tv^elfch New York l;e{;ini'-ut was
not engaged with the enemy on the 21st, yet there w.:s ai»u!.(Uxiii work for its surgeons on
that memorable da}-. Owing to the severe lal)ors of tJiis sinut eiinpaign and the j^uisonous
atmosphere of the Potomac marshes, Surgeon Pease was .>V;i;^-ed to resign his position August
80th following and return home for rest. After a few %s'es k.s >ns health was restored and he
returned to the army November 19, 18GI, as Surgeon ol tneT^n'.b New York Cavalry. He
silent the following winter at Gettysburg, Pa. He was (U^racbed from his rtgiment April 19,
18G2, and ordered to report to Major-Geuoral Dix at BaKin.'ne, Md. Here he was assigned to
Patterson Park United States Hospital, which he organiz.; I ^^iLh twelve hundred beds. In
November following he again returned to the field and pa: tieipated in the battle at Fred-
ericksburg, December 13th, vmder Major-General Burnsi'le.

' February 25, 18(>3, Surgeon Pease was made medical insj-octor of the Cavalry Corps, then
being organized bj' General Stoneman, and was placed on his staff. When General Stoneraan
was succeeded by General Pleasontou he was retained in the same position by tiie latter.
During the celebrated Stoneman raid and Major-Genernl H'-oker's campaign, Surgeon Pease
was ordered to organize a Cavalry Corps Hospital at Aquia Creek. This was continued as a
field hospital during the entire time the Cavalry Corps reniained in that vicinity, and as such
it maintained a high reputation.

The performance of this last order did not prevent Surgf^on Pease from being pre.sent and
participating in the engagement at Chancellorsville. lie was with bis corps in the battljes at
Gettysburg, July 1st, 2d, and 3d, and joined in the parst:it of tlie enemy at Boonsboro, Md.
At this place he was ordered by Surgeon Paneoast, Medital f^irector of the Cavalry Cori^s, to
take charge of the field hospitals and to concentrate thera at, Boonsboro. When this was
done he joined the army at Salem and participated in the engagements which drovs the
enemy across the Rapidan.

After this Surgeon Pease was transferred to the corps of s'lrj^'eons of volunteers, and was
ordered to report to the General commanding the Middle De].>arin)ent at Baltimore. Decem-
ber 2, 1863, he was ordered to relieve Surgeon Paneoast, and b(^. again returned to the field as
Medical Director of the Corps which he had so long ser^d ns laedical iuspt'ctov. In the
spring of IStU the Cavalry Corps vras reorganized, and Geiu^ral rhilip H. Sheridan was i^laced
in command, without any change in its medical director.

Our space will not allow us to mention the many bold fird daring adventures and hard-
fought battles of the Cavalry Corps under its new commander during the successful campaign
of 1864, while Surgeon Pease was connected with it, Tlu^ ^vnu!e responsibility of tlie medical
and surgical department rested on the medical directt:>r. He must provide medical stores,
bospitals, and means of transportation for the sick and ^^ oun ieil. Surrounded on every side
by the enemy in an enemy's country, as the Cavahy Ccrps cffeu found itself, this latter re-
sponsibility was the most difficult. In the exp^'dition of General yneridan toward the Virginia
Central Railroad, and after the engagement with the en'r'/ny, June 11th and 12th, at Trevillian
Station, Surgeon Pease had four hundred soldiers to transp'ut, le the "White House, a distai\ce
of nearly two hundi*ed miles, and he had only twelve ambulances to do it with. But by scouring
the enemy's country and seizing every available vehicle that c >uhl be found, and with the aid
of thirty baggage-wagons, all were conducted safely beyond Uic reach of the enemy and the
consequent sufferings of those who had the misfortune to bee. >ii m y.ri.soners of war to the enemy.

During the early part of the campaign against Richmond, in 1Sl>4. Surgeon Pease at one
time became so disabled as to be unfitted for riding in the ;^addl", and he was obliged to ask to
be temporarily relieved and to be put on other duty. He v. as aceordingl}- given in charge of
one of the first trains of wounded soldiers— thirty-five imndred in number— which were
taken from the battle-fields of the Wilderness and remove<l In Fredericksburg. He remained
at Fredericksburg for a short time as inspector of hospitals, but a'::ain returned to his corps
in tune to particij^ate in the battles of Old Tavern and Cold ifarbor.

at that battle, and I believe his wound was dressed I y S'.irgoon Roger W. Pease,
of the Twelfth New York Volunteers. He also dres^t'd ihc wounds of two other
meu belonging to my squadron. I am yours very re.spcctfully,

Albert G. Brackett^
Colonel Third U. S. Cavalnj, lat*-, C(ij>fai?i JSecond Cavalrrj.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— FIELD AND STAFF. 277

In consequence of exp)osures in the field for nearly two years and a half, Surgeon Pease's
health became so much impaired that he was compelled to ask to be permanently relieved
from his position. His request was granted, an(J on the 8th of August he was again ordered
to Baltiuiore and was placed in charge of the Newton United States General Hospital. About
one year from that time he was ordered to Charlestown, W. Va., to close the hospitals in that
place and dispose of the property. This being done. Surgeon Pease again returned to Balti-
more and was mustered out of service October 1, 18()d, with the rank of brevet lieutenant-
colonel from the United States Government.

Surgeon Pease received a commission from the Governor of New York with the rank of
brevet Ueutenant-colonel, bearing date September 6, 180G. The commission states that it is
'• for faithful and meritorious services in the late war and as a testimonial for zeal, fidelity, and
courage with which you have maintained the honor of the State of New York in her efforts to
enforce the laws of the United States."

Assistant Surgeons.

Bliss, Lyman W.— Age twenty-six; commissioned at Camp Bayard, Va.,
February 10, 18G3, with rank from February 9, 1863 ; mustered in March 13,
18C3 ; taken prisoner June 30, 1863, at Hanover, Md. ; paroled and released near
Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863 ; resigned October 7, 1863, to accept commission as
surgeon First N. Y. Vols. Formerly served as acting Assistant surgeon, U. S. A.,
Indei)endent Company D. C. Cav., from August 9, 1862, to March 13, 1863.

Catlin, Charles A, — Age twenty-nine; commissioned before Petersburg, Va.,
February 2, 1865, with rank from January 19, 1865; mustered in March 13, 1865;
transferred June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Pro v. Cav.

Clarke, Henry K.— Age twenty-five; commissioned from Albany, December
23, 1862, with rank from same date; mustered in same day; promoted to surgeon,
November 13, I860.

Lannlnsr, Oliver.— Age thirty-one; commissioned before Petersburg, Va.,
December 28, 1864; mustered in January 16, 1865; transferred June 24, 1865, to
First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet major, N. Y. Vols.

Sickler, Peter E.— Age thirty-six ; commissioned at Warrenton Junction,
Va., December 15, 1863, with rank from same date; mustered in December 31,
1863 ; taken prisoner at Trevillian Station, Va., June 12, 1864, by remaining in
charge of wounded ; discharged November 30, 1864, per Special Order No. 135,
headquarters A. of P. Formerly served in Eighteenth N. Y. Vols, until Febru-
ary 16, 1862, when transferred to Forty-seventh N. Y. Vols, by promotion.

Whedon, George 1).— Age twenty-nine ; commissioned at Elmira, January 7,
1862, with rank from December 12, 1861 ; mustered in at Elmira with regiment,
December 23, 1861 ; resigned November 30, 1862.

Chaplai7is.

Bradley, Joseph H.— Age twenty-six; commissioned June 17, 1864, with
rank from April 10, 1864; joined for duty at Spottsylvania. Va., May 9, 1864;
mustered in same day; mustered out June 23, 1865, at (nond's Mill's, Va., as
supornumeniry. Formerly served as captain in Fifth N. Y. Vols, from May 9,
1861, to July 20, 1862.

Day, Robert.--Age fifty-five; commissioned at Elmira January 7, 1862, with
rank from November 29, 1861 ; mustered in January 18, 1862 ; discharged by order,
August 14, 1863, on tender of resignation.

278 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGDIENT OF CAVALRY.

Crowell, Ezra.— Commissioned March 10, 18G4, with rank from same date ;
not joined or mustered.

Recapitulation.— Field and Staff.

The number of officers in the field and staff was thirty-two ; but four of
these were mustered in more than one grade, leaving twenty-eight to be ac-
counted for. There were, in addition, several officers of the line who served on
the staff, that are not enumerated.

There were two colonels, one of whom was mustered in with the Regiment, and
one promoted from major (commissioned as lieutenant-colonel, but not mustered).
One of these was discharged by order, and one transferred in the same grade to
the First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

The number of lieutenant-colonels was three, of whom one was mustered in as
such at the organization of the Regiment, one was promoted from major, and one
from captain and A. A. G., U. S. Vols. There was one died of wounds received in
action, one mustered out on expiration of term of service, and one transferred in the
same grade to First N. Y. Prov. Cav. There were eight majors, all but one of whom
were promoted from captains of companies, as follows : One from A, two from B,
one from E, one from F, and two from L, and one (original) from private. Com-
pany E. Of the two regimental adjutants, one was promoted from hospital
steward, and one from regimental commissary, and two battalion adjutants, one
was promoted from private, Company F, and one was an original. One regi-
mental adjutant was discharged for disability, and one transferred to the First
N. Y. Prov. Cav , and one battalion adjutant was mustered out as supernumerary,
and one resigned. The one regimental quartermaster was promoted from regi-
mental quartermaster sergeant and was mustered out as supernumerary. There
were four regimental commissaries, one promoted from first lieutenant, Company
E, one from sergeant, Company L, one from second lieutenant, Company C, and
one from second lieutenant, Company B. One of these was promoted to captain,
Company A, one to adjutant, one resigned, and one was transferred in the same
grade to the First N. Y. Prov. Cav. There were two surgeons — one was original
and one promoted from assistant surgeon. Of those one was promoted to sur-
geon U. S. v., and one was mustered out as supernumerary. There were six
assistant surgeons, of whom one was mustered in with the Regiment, and five
promoted from civil life. Of the six, two resigned, one was discharged by order,
one promoted to surgeon, and two transferred in the same grade to the First
N. Y. Prov. Cav. Of the two chaplains, one was mastered in with the Regiment,
and one was promoted from civil life. One of these was discharged, and one mus-
tered out as supernumerary.

The Field akd Staff Honored Dead.
Lieutenant-Colonel.
Frederick L. Tremain.— Died in hospital, at City Point, Va., February 8,
1865, of wounds received in action at Hatcher's Run, Va., February G, 1865.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 279

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Sergeant Majors.

BilfTum, John B. — Promoted from sergeant, Company B, December 15, 1864;
promoted to second lieutenant, Company I, January 16, 1865.

Curtis, Thomas. — Promoted from sergeant, Company M, January 29, 1865 ;
reduced to private. Company M, April 6, 1865.

Farnsworth, Horhert E. — Promoted from bugler, Company D, November 1,
1862 ; promoted to first lieutenant, Company I, August 22, 1864.

McKevitt, John T. — Promoted from sergeant, Company G, October 5, 1862 ;
promoted to first lieutenant. Company G, December 25, 1862.

Norton, Lewellyn P. — Promoted from sergeant. Company L, April 6, 1865 ;
mustered out June 26, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary, per Spe-
cial Order No. 312. Awarded medal of honor by Congress for gallantry in action
at Sailor's Creek, V'a., April 6, 1865.

Preston, Noble I). — Promoted from sergeant. Company A, November 25,
1861 ; promoted to first lieutenant. Company E, September 15, 1862.

"Webb, Frederick \u — Promoted from private. Company B, November 25,
1861 ; discharged August 22, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants.

ATcry, Amos D, — Promoted from regimental commissary sergeant, Decem-
l)cr 25, 1864 ; promoted to regimental commissary. May 31, 1865 ; not mustered ;
transferred June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav. as regimental quartermaster
sergeant.

Graves, William E.— Promoted from private, Company B, March 22, 1862 ;
promoted to regimental quartermaster, October 21, 1862.

Spencer, Charles H.— Promoted from battalion quartermaster sergeant,
March 10, 1864 ; promoted to second lieutenant, Company K, February 17, 1864.

Woodruif, Oscar. — Promoted from regimental commissary sergeant, March
10, 1864 ; promoted to second lieutenant, Company K, November 21, 1864.

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeants.

Hayes, Henry E.— Promoted from sergeant. Company A, November 25,
1861 ; promoted to quartermaster sergeant, Company A, June 24, 1862.

Kin?, John B.— Promoted from private, Company G, January 18, 1862 ; re-
turned to Company G as sergeant, June 24, 1862.

Spencer, Charles H.— Promoted from sergeant, Company A, June 24, 1862;
promoted to regimental quartermaster sergeant, March 10, 1864.

Regimental Commissary Sergeants,

Avery, Amos B.— Promoted from private. Company D, March 10, 1864; pro-
moted to regimental quartermaster sergeant, December 25, 1864.

Freer, John A.— Promoted from sergeant, Company M, December 16, 1864 ;

280 HISTORY OP TUE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

mustered out, June 26, 1SG5, as supernumerary non-commissioned officer per
Special Order No. 312.

Woodruff, Oscar. — Promoted from private, Company H, August 30, 18G2;
re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 18G3, at Warrenton, Va.; promoted to
regimental quartermaster sergeant, March 10, 18G4.

Battalion Commissary Sergeants.

Whedon, Oscar 1*. — Promoted from private, Company G, January 18, 1862 ;
promoted to second lieutenant, Company B, May 22, 1862.

Woodruff, Marshall R. — Promoted from private. Company B, November 25,
1861 ; returned to company, August 26, 1862.

Hospital Stewards. .

Blynn, Martin H.— Promoted from private, Company B, November 1, 1862
promoted to second lieutenant, Company B, August, 1863.

Bowers, Joseph L. — Promoted from sergeant, Company G, March 1, 1865
mustered out at Cloud's Mills, Va., June 26, 1865, as supernumerary.

Cowles, John E. — Promoted from sergeant, Company A, August 9, 1863
wounded in left hand and forearm, at battle of St. Mary's Church, Va., June 24
1864 ; in hospital at Alexandria, Va. ; promoted to second lieutenant, Company A
January 16, 1865.

Fuller, Bonville. — Age thirty-eight; enlisted from Palmira, November 25,
1861 ; mustered in December 23, 1861 ; discharged, April 21, 1862, at Havre de
Grace, Md., on surgeon's certificate of discharge.

Kempster, Walter. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Elmira, N. Y., Novem-
ber 21, 1861 ; mustered in January 18, 1862 ; promoted to first lieutenant. Com-
pany D, July 27, 1863.

Kennedy, George W. — Promoted from private. Company H, December 17,
4861 ; promoted to adjutant, October 21, 1862.

Tackabury, Wesley W. — Promoted from sergeant. Company D, December
20, 1863 ; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ;
transferred, June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav. .

Chief Buglers.

Cole, Addison. — Promoted from bugler. Company A, November 25, 1861 ;
mustered out September 20, 1862, at Washington, D. C, as supernumerary.

Strack, George. — Promoted from private, Company C, November 25, 1861 ;
mustered out September 20, 1862, at Washington, D. C, as supernumerary.

Walker, George. — Promoted from private. Company B, April 30, 1863 ; re-
turned to company, December 25, 1864 ; promoted to chief bugler again, January
1, 1865 ; transferred, June 24, 1865, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Battalion Saddler Sergeants.

Barry, Thomas.— Promoted from satldler. Company B, November 25, 1861 ;
mastered out September 20, 1862, at Wa?ihington, I). C, as supernumerary.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 281

Griflln, Joseph T. — Age forty-three; enlisted from Elmira, November 25,
1861 ; mustered in December 23, 1861 ; died of typhoid fever, September 4, 1862,
at Patterson Park Hospital, Baltimore, Md.*

Weygrint, Williaiu.— Promoted from saddler, Company H, July 1, 1862; re-
turned to company, date not shown.

Battalion Veterinary Sergeants.

Butler, Alvain.— Promoted from private. Company E, November 25, 1861 ;
discharged April 21, 1862, at Havre de Grace, Md., on surgeon's certificate of dis-
ability.

Dickinson, James F.— Promoted from sergeant, Company A, November 25,
1861 ; mustered out September 20, 1862, at Washington, D. C, as supernumerary.

Dodge, Hiram B.— Promoted from private. Company A, November 27,
1862 ; mustered out before Petersburg, Va., September 24, 1864, by reason of
expiration of term of service.

Tan Wornier, Leman.— Promoted from private. Company H, April 13, 1862 ;
returned to company, October 19, 1862.

Regimental Farrier.

Smith, 3Iahloii K.— Promoted from private. Company H, September 20,
1862 ; discharged, December 8, 1862, at Mount Pleasant General Hospital, on sur-
geon's certificate of disability.

Regimental Wagon Master.

Mallory, Silas C— Promoted from private, Company H, September 25, 1862 ;
returned to Company H. date not shown.

Recapitulation.— NoN-Co3iMissiONED Staff.

There were seven sergeant majors, all of whom were promoted from the Regi-
ment, one from sergeant, Company A, one from private. Company B, one from
sergeant, Company B, one from sergeant, Company G, one from sergeant, Com-
pany L, one from sergeant, Company M, and one from bugler, Company D. Of
these, one was discharged for disability, one mustered out as supernumerary, one
promoted to first lieutenant, Company E, one to first lieutenant, Company G, one
to first and one to second lieutenant, Company I, and one reduced to private.
Company ^I.

Of the four regimental quartermaster sergeants, two were promoted from regi-
mental commissary sergeants, one from battalion quartermaster sergeant, and
one from private. Company B. One of tliese was promoted to regimental quai'ter-
master, two to second lieutenants, Company K, and one transferred as regimental
quartermaster sergeant to the First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

There were also three battalion quartermaster sergeants, of whom two were
promoted from sergeants, Company A, and one from private, Company G. One
of these was promoted to regimental quartermaster sergeant, one to quarter-
master sergeant, Company A, and one was returned to Company G as sergeant.

282 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

There were three regimental commissary sergeants, of whom one was promoted
from sergeant, Company M, one from private, Company D, and one from private.
Company H. Two of these were promotrtl to regimental quartermaster sergeants,
and one was mustered out of service as supernumerary.

The two battalion commissary sergeants were promoted from privates, one
from Company B and one from Company Gr. One was promoted second lieu-
tenant, Company B, and one returned to Company B.

Of the seven hospital stewards, two were mustered in as such with the Regi-
ment, one was promoted from private, Company II, one from sergeant. Company

A, one from sergeant, Company D, one from sergeant. Company G, and one from
private, Company B. Of these, one was discharged for disability, one mustered
out as supernumerary, one promoted to adjutant, one to first lieutenant, Com-
pany D, one to second lieutenant, Company A, one to second lieutenant, Company

B, and one transferred as hospital steward to First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

One of the three chief buglers was promoted from bugler. Company A, one
from private. Company B, and one from private. Company C. Of these, two were
mustered out, and one transferred to First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Of the three battalion saddler sergeants, one was mustered in as such with the
Regiment, one was promoted from saddler, Company B, and one from saddler,
Company H. One of these died of disease, one was mustered out, and one returned
to Company H.

There were four battalion veterinary sergeants, of whom one was promoted
from sergeant. Company A, one from private, Company A, one from private.
Company E, and one from private. Company H. Of the four, one was discharged
for disability, one mustered out on expiration of term of service, one mustered
out, and one returned to Company H.

The only one regimental farrier was promoted from private, Company H, and
was discharged for disability.

One regimental wagon-master was promoted from private, Company H, and
returned to the Company.

The Honored Dead of the Non-Commissioned Staff.

Battalion Saddler Sergeant.

Josepli T. Oriffin.— Died in hospital, at Baltimore, Md., September 4, 1862,
of typhoid fever.

THE REGIMENTAL BAND.

Although no provision was made by law for regimental bands, the officers of
the Tenth decided to have one. It was arranged with Captain Edwin Pier, of
Corning, that he should organize a band, the members of which were to enlist and
muster as private sohlicrs, to be afterward detailed as musicians. By this means
the members would receive the regular pay as private soldiers from the Govern-
ment, and the balance of their salary would be borne by the officers. Under this
arrangement the band was organized, as already given,* and continued as such.

* Sec page 10.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— THE REGIMENTAL BAND. 283

with but little change, for about one year, Addison W. Cole, of Company A, being
detailed for a time, as member. John Shilling, barytone, was mustered in as a
member of the band while the Regiment was in Gettysburg in the winter of
18G3- G3. No record of his enlistment or muster-out can be found.

The latter part of 1802, the officers appeared to weary of the burden, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Irvine sought to have the men transferred as a brigade band, and
succeeded in having an order issued by General Bayard to that effect, which order
was received by the band on Sunday, November 9, 18C3, and the next day they
reported at General Bayard's headquarters at Rappahannock Station, about noon,
where it remained for some time before being mustered out, meantime recruit-
ing from the other regiments in the brigade such men as were necessary to render
the band complcle. It yet remained the band of the Tenth New York Cavalry
when it accompanied General Bayard across the river at the battle of Freder-
icksburg, and i)layed in front of General Franklin's headquarters on the night of
December 12, 1802. The next morning the band was under a heavy fire, and
General Bayard sent them orders to retire to the river; they obeyed the order,
but later returned to witness the battle, and a second time he sent an order for
them to go back. This was General Bayard's last order ; he was killed before the
return of the orderly by whom he sent the message.

The members of the band as given, except James B. Shedd (who was soon
after discharged, on surgeon's certificate of disability) and Oscar W. Drake, who
remained with his company, were mustered out of service, at Camp Bayard, Va.,
December 20, 18U2, and were mustered in as a brigade band by General Gregg, at
the same place, January 1, 18G3. The brigade band consisted of Ed\vin Pier,
leader, C- M. Griswold, Isaac Jimerson, Jr., W. H. Clark,. A. K. Clark, T. L.
Townley, W. A. Oi-ser, and S. D. King, of the Tenth New York, R. H. Ferguson,
of the Second New York, A. B. Spencer, of the First Maine, and George Kessler,
George ^lentzcr, and II. B. Lair, of the First Pennsylvania.

Captain Pier was discharged for disability, April 12, 1863, and William H.
Clark succeeded him as leader of the band.

It was this band that furnished music on the line art Todd's Tavern, Va., May
7, 1864, for which credit has so often been awarded to Custer's band.

The band became badly broken up by the capture and wounding of several of
its members at tlie time of the Trevillian Station engagement, Ferguson and Orser
being captured and Jimerson badly wounded. Leader Clark had Jimerson placed
in an old buggy and got him safely through to White House. The two first
named were lost while foraging. Leader Clark says: "It was a hard loss to me,
as I had just got the band in great shape, and they were three of the best men 1
had. General Davios said to me, ' Clark, you had the best band in the whole
Cavalry Corps, and if you don't get your share of rations and forage hereafter, at
these headquarters, come to me, and I will stir things up here.' I took five new
men from the First Pennsylvania, and worked them in as best 1 could."

284 HISTORY OP THE TENTH REGIMENT OP CAVALRY.

COMPANY A.
Captains,

ATerj', M. Heury. — Age twenty-five; enlisted from Syracuse, August 14,
1861 ; mustered as captain and sworn in by Captain W. Harvey Brown, Four-
teenth Infantry, September 27, 18G1, but never commissioned; promoted to major
January 7, 1862.

Ordncr, Jolin. — Age twenty-nine ; commissioned from Buffalo, March 2,
1864, with rank from same date. Appointed from civil life. Joined for duty and
assumed con:imand of company near Warrenton, Ya., March 8, 18G4. Killed in
action at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 18G1. Formerly captain of Com-
pany C.

Pratt, Henry S. — Promoted from first lieutenant January 17, 1862, with
rank from December 12, ISGl ; taken prisoner near Centreville, Va., August 31,
1862 ; paroled September 1, 18G2 ; exchanged and rejoined company December
19, 1862 ; dis. May 5, 18G3.

Preston, Noble D. — Promoted from regimental commissary, July 8, 1864, with
rank from June 11, 18G4. Discharged at Annapolis, jNId., November 28, 1864, on
report of board of surgeons, on account of- wound. Brevet major and lieutenant-
colonel, N. Y. V. Awarded medal of honor by Congress for gallantry in action
at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864.

Perry, TT alter R. — Promoted from second lieutenant January 16, 1865, with
rank from December 24, 18G4 ; wounded in action at Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6,
1865; rejoined company May 28, 1865; transferred June 24, 1865, as captain,
Company A, to First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet major, N. Y. V.

First Lieutenants.

Cowles, John E. — Promoted from second lieutenant March 24, 1865, with
rank from March 8, 1865 ; mustered in May 3, 18G5 ; ti'ansferred June 24, 1865, to
Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet captain, N. Y. V.

Hartwcll, Elijah. — Promoted from first sergeant. Company B, February 9,
1864, with rank from November 2, 1863; mustered in March 13, 1864; promoted
to captain, Company C, January 16, 1865.

Potter, "William C. — -\ge thirty-three; enlisted from Buffalo, September 14,
1861; commissioned January 7, 1862, with rank from October 29, 1861; detailed
as regimental adjutant November 25, 1861 ; returned to company June 18, 1862 ;
acting regimental quartermaster from August 3 to 25, 1862 ; in hospital at
Georgetown, D. C, from October 17, 1862 ; discharged April 12, 1863, on sur-
geon's certificate of disability.

Pratt, Henry S.— Age thirty; enlisted from Syracuse, September 14, 1861 ;
mustered as first lieutenant ajid sworn in by Captain W. Harvey Brown, Four-
teenth Infantry, September 27, 1861, but never commissioned ; promoted to cap-
tain January 17, 18G2.

Rfee, Horatio H. — Promoted from sergeant April 22, 1865, with rank from
April 7, 1865 ; declined ; discharged as sergeant.

Major M. //. Avrry. Capt. Henry S.

ry S. Pratt. Lieut. Tlieo. H. Weed.

ORIGINAL COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
OF COMPANY A.

(uUkuMar, •i.Nr.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 285

White, John P. — Promoted from second lieutenant, Company E, February
14, 18G5, with rank from January 1, 1865; promoted to captain. Company E, March
8, 1865.

Seeo7id Lieutenants.

Cowles, John E. — Promoted from hospital steward January 16, 1865, with
rank from Deceiuber 24, 186-4 ; promoted to first lieutenant March 24, 1865.

Hitchcock, Theodore. — Promoted from quartermaster sergeant, Company
C, April 22, 1865, with rank from March 8, 1865 ; mustered in May 4, 1865 ;
transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet first
lieutenant, N. Y. V.

Perry, Walter R. — Promoted from sergeant February 17, 1864, to rank from
February 9, 1864; mustered in March 20, 1864 ; promoted to captain January 16,
1865.

Weed, Theodore H. — Age twenty-two ; enlisted from Jordan, August 14,
1861 ; mustered and sworn in by Captain W. Harvey Brown, Fourteenth Infant-
ry, September 27, 1861 ; commissioned January 7, 1862, to rank from September
27, 1861 ; detailed as acting regimental quartermaster June 18, 1862 ; sent to
hospital at Georgetown, D. C, September 27, 1862 ; returned to duty December
5, 1862 ; again sent to hospital at Georgetown, D. C, December 30, 1862 ; pro-
moted to captain. Company B, July 27, 1863.

Sergeants.

Bishop, William N.— Promoted from corporal March 27, 1865 ; mustered
out at Cloud's Mills, Va., June 26, 1865, as supernumerary.

Brownell, Mark. — Promoted from corporal April 15, 1862 ; taken prisoner
August 31, 1862, near Centreville, V^a. ; released on parole September 1, 1862, and
sent to Annapolis, Md. ; at home on sick-leave from Parole Camp, Md.. Decem-
ber, 1862, and January, 1863 ; promoted to quartermaster sergeant, October,
1863; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; mus-
tered out March 24, 1864, to accept promotion as second lieutenant, Fourth Regi-
ment U. S. C. Cav., and ordered to report for duty with said regiment at New
Orleans, La., where he was mustered in May 9, 1864 ; finally mustered out and
discharged for disability January 5, 1865.

Cowles, John E.— Promoted from corporal December 12, 1861 ; detailed in
medical department December 12, 1862 ; promoted to hospital steward August 9,
1863.

Colbnrn, Lewis A. — Promoted from corporal August 17, 1863 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in Deeomber 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; wounded at Dinwiddle
Court-IIouse,-Va., :March 31, 1865, by gunshot-wound in abdomen and left thigh ;
in Douglas Ilospital, Washington, D. C, from April 4, 1865, to August 5, 1865,
when he was discharged by reason of wounds.

Corwin, Gillespie R.— Promoted from corporal April 2, 1865; transferred
June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Dickinson, James P.— Age twenty-eight ; enlisted from Freetown, Septem-
ber 5, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to battalion veteran ser-
geant November 25, 1861.

286 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Dod^e, Hiram B. — Age thirty-four; enlisted from Syracuse, August 14,
1861 ; mustered in as quartermaster sergeant September 27, 1861 ; reduced to
private January 1, 1862.

Eastman, James. — Promoted from private December 12, 1861 ; taken prisoner
near Centreville, Va., August 31, 1862 ; paroled and sent to Annapolis ; mustered
out September 26, 1864, near Petersburg, Va.

Hayes, Henry E. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Cincinnatus, August 31,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to battalion quartermaster
sergeant November 25, 1861 ; quartermaster sergeant of company, June 24, 1862 ;
promoted to first sergeant, 1862 ; wounded at Middleburg, Va., June 19, 1863 ;
promoted to second lieutenant. Company I, July 27, 1863.

Higley, Lyman. — Age twenty-five ; enlisted from Syracuse, September 10,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; deserted September 28, 1861, at Syracuse.

Joyner, John J. — Promoted from corporal December 12, 1861 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to quarter-
master sergeant March 20, 1864 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

McTVethey, Rowland S.— Promoted from corporal November 16, 1862 ; re-
enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; taken prisoner,
July, 1864, in Shenandoah Valley, Va. ; died in Salisbury (N. C.) Prison, Novem-
ber'ie, 1864.

McWetliey, John P. — Promoted from corporal August 31, 1863 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to quarter-
master sergeant April 2, 1865 ; mustered out at Cloud's MUls, Va., June 26, 1865,
as supernumerary.

Mitchell, Nelson. — Age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Syracuse, August 23,
1861 ; mustered in as first sergeant September 27, 1861 ; promoted to second
lieutenant, Company K, July 27, 1863.

Perry, Walter R. — Promoted from private January 1, 1863 ; detailed on
recruiting service from August 25 to December 5, 1862 ; re-enlisted and mustered
in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to second lieutenant February
17,1864.

Pierce, James. — Promoted from corporal January 1, 1865 ; mustered out
June 26, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary.

Preston, Noble 1>.— Promoted from corporal September 28, 1961 ; promoted
to sergeant major November 25, 1861.

Reynolds, Norman A. — Promoted from corporal March 20, 1864; wounded
in action at Poplar Springs Church, Va., October 1, 1864 ; wounded in action at
Appomattox Court-IIouse, Va., April 9, 1865; promoted from commissary ser-
geant to second lieutenant, Company L, May 31, 1865.

Rice, Horatio H.— Prouioted from corporal March 20, 1864; wounded at
Trevillian Station, Va., June 11,1864; promoted to second lieutenant. Twenty-
eighth Regiment U. S. C. T., November 22, 1864; promoted to first lieutenant
April 22, 1865 ; declined.

REGIMENTAL llOSTER.- COMPANY A. 287

Spencer, Cliurlcs H.— Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, August 23,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; promoted June 24, 1862, to battalion
quartermaster sergeant. '

Stark, Edward W.— Promoted from corporal November 1, 18G4 ; transferred
June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav. Brevet 2d lieut. N. Y. Vols.

Thompson, Harlan P.— Promoted from private to commissary sergeant
October 0, 1802 ; promoted to first sergeant, date not given ; re-enlisted and mus-
tered in January 20, 1804 ; severely wounded in action at St. Mary's Church, Va.,
Juno 24, 1864 ; promoted to second lieutenant, Company II, November 21, 186-1.

">YIiite, John P. — Promoted from corporal, 1803 ; re-enlisted and mustered
in December 31, 1803, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to second lieutenant, Com-
pany E, June 14, 1804.

Corporals,

Baker, William A.— Promoted from private December 10, 1862 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in at Jordan, January 20, 1864 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Com-
pany A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Dishop^ William N. — Promoted from private March 25, 1864 ; wounded at
Light-house Point, July 1, 1864 ; promoted to sergeant March 27, 1865.

liodilsh, Henry. — Promoted from private November 1, 1864; transferred
June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Brownell, Mark. — Age twenty; enlisted from McGrawville, August 31,
1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; promoted to sergeant April 15, 1862.

Cowles, John E. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Cincinnatus, September 10,
1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; promoted to sergeant December 12, 1861.

Colburn, Lewis A. — Promoted from private December 12, 1861 ; promoted
to sergeant August 17, 1803.

Con well, Ooorgc "\V. — Age thirty-seven ; enlisted from Syracuse, August 30,
1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; reduced to private April 15, 1802.

Corwin, (willospic B.— Promoted from private March 31, 1864; promoted to
sergeant April 2, lb05.

Egan, John.—Promoted from private April 30,1865; mustered out June 3,
1865, at Cloud's :\lills, Va.

Forrester, Edgar.— Promoted from private June 10, 1865; mustered out
June 26, 1805, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary.

Freeman, Henry.— Promoted from private July 1, 1804 ; mustered out June
26, 1805, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary.

Griswold, Silas L.— Promoted from private March 27, 1805; transferred
June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hammond, Samuel.— Promoted from private January 1, 1865 ; transferred
June 24, 1805, to Company A, N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hayes, Albert W.— Promoted from private November 1, 1803; in hospital
at Fortress Monroe from :\[ay, 1804, to time of discharge; mustered out Septem-
ber 17, 1804, at Fortress Monroe Hospital.

288 UISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Joyuer, John J.— Age twenty-five; enlisted from McGrawville, August 31,
1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1861; promoted to sergeant December 12, 18G1.
Brevet second lieutenant N. Y. Vols. *

Urayyoii, Aloiizo.— Promoted from private November 1, 18G4; mustered out
June 2G, 18G5, at Cloud's Mills, Va., as supernumerary.

McWcthey, Jolin P.— Promoted from private April 15, 1862; promoted to
sergeant August 31, 18G3. . Brevet second lieutenant N. Y. Vols.

McWethcy, Rowland S. — Age twenty-three ; enlisted from Red Creek, Sep-
tember 10, ISGl ; mustered in same day ; promoted to sergeant November 16, 1862.

Mollitt, Joseph.— Promoted from private November 8, 1861 ; discharged No-
vember 29, 1862, from Falmouth, Va., on surgeon's certificate of disability.

Pierce, James. — Promoted from private March 20, 1864 ; wounded in action
at Lee's Mills, Va., July 30, 1864 ; pro. to serg't Jan. 1, 1865. B'vt 2d lieut. N. Y. V.

Preston, Noble D. — Age nineteen ; enlisted from Fulton, August 30, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to sergeant September 28, 1861.

Reynolds, Norman A. — Promoted from private April 15, 1862 ; taken pris-
oner August 31, 1862, near Centreville, Va. ; paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md. ;
re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to
sergeant March 20, 1864.

Rice, Horatio H. — Promoted from private December 1, 1862 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 28, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to sergeant
March 20, 1864.

Stark, Edward "VT. — Promoted from private August 31, 1863; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ;' promoted to sergeant
November 1, 1864.

Wallace, David. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Cortland, N. Y., Septem-
ber 10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; wounded in action at Middle-
burg, Va., June 19, 1863 ; in hospital at Washington, D. C, from June 21, 1863,
to October 21, 1863 ; discharged March 31, 1864, at Rochester, N. Y.

AVarner, Charles L. — Promoted from private April 2, 1865; transferred
June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Watson, George. — Promoted from private December 12, 1861 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; died of disease February
10, 18G5, at Prospect, N. Y., while on furlough.

White, John P. — Promoted from private December 12. 1861 ; in General Hos-
pital at Washington, D. C, November 18, 1862; promoted to sergeant 1863.

Buglers.

Cole, Addison. — Age twenty-five ; enlisted from Syracuse, September 3, 1861 :
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to chief bugler November 25, 1861.

Cook, James H. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Cortland, September 5, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; taken prisoner at Leesburg, Va., September 17,
1862; exchanged and rejoined company December 16, 1862; re-enlisted and
mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865, to
Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

I-

■Ip.

' -

vc?

SERGEANT MARK BROWNELL,
Company A.

REUIMENTAIi ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 289

Turner, Eli.— Proiuoted Irom private December 12, 1861; wounded in action
at Lccsljuig, Va., Sfpicinbrr 17, 18G2; mustered out September 20, 1804, on De-
tachment 31uster-out Koli near Petersburg,', Va., on expiration of term of service.

Saddlers.

SnkUh, Andrew J.— Age twenty-eight; enlisted from Syracuse, September
25, 1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; re-enlisted and mustered in Decem-
ber 31, 1803, at Warrenton, Va.; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Farriers.

Marlin, Georg:e.~Age twenty-seven; enlisted from Buffalo, December 11,
1801 ; mustered in December 12, 18C1 ; accidentally killed July 30, 1802, at Back
River, :yid.

Morgan, WilHaru A.— Promoted from private August, 1802; in hospital at
Frederiek City, Md., from July 10 to August 2, 1803; at Patterson Park Hos-
pital, Bcalliinore, 3Id., iroTii August to November 6,1803; re-enlisted and mus-
tered in December 31, 1803, at Warrenton, Va. ; mustered out June 20, 1805, at
Cloud's Mills, Va.. as supernumerary.

riercc, Albertiis.—Ago twenty-eight; enlisted from Cortland, January 4,
1864; mustered in January 11, 1804; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A,
First N. Y. Pro V. Cav.

Wagoners.

Tonng, Frederick. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Buffalo August 27,
1801 ; mustered in Septciuber 27, 1801 ; absent without leave February, 1802 ;
transferred June 21, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Pi'ivates.

Aspolmeycr, William. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Schenectady, Novem-
ber 11, 1801 ; mustered in November 15, 1801 ; re-enlisted and mustered in at
Schenectady December 32, 1803; wounded at Ilaw'es's Shop, Va., May 28, 1864;
transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Austin, AVilliaui.— Age thirty-two; enlisted from Syracuse, September 12,
1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; taken prisoner August 31, 1802, near
Centrcville, Va. ; exehauired and rejoined company December 10, 1802; detailed
as teamster December 17, 1802; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

linker, James. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Sullivan, January 21, 1864;
mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Bakrr, William A.— Age twenty-six; enlisted from Jordan, November 26,
1801 ; mu.-tered in Deecnibcr 12, 1801 ; taken prisoner August 31, 1802, near Cen-
trcville, Va. ; exchanged and rejoined company December 10, 1802; promoted to
corporal December 10, 1S(>2.

Balta, Lewis. — Age twenty-seven; enlisted from New York city, February
24, 1805; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A,
First N. Y. Prov. Cav.
19

290 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Beckhorn, Thompson B.— Age thirty-four; enlisted from Chemung, De-
cember 12, 18G1 ; mustered in same day ; taken prisoner June 19, 18G3, at Mid-
dleburg, Va.; wounded at Sulphur ^springs, Va., October 12, 18G3; taken pris-
oner at Ground Squirrel Bridge, Va., May 11, 1864 ; died in Andersonville Prison
November, 18G4.

Belden, Cornelius. — Age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Sullivan, January 25,
1864; mustered in same day; wounded at Hawes's Shop, Va., May 28, 1864;
transferred June 24, 18G5, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Bentley, Charles H. — Age twenty-six; enlisted from Geddes, August 3,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Bird, Theodore.— Age nineteen ; enlisted from Victory, September 10, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; mustered out at Havre de Grace, Md., April 10,
1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.

Bishop, William N. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Syracuse, September 20,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; re-enlisted and mustered in at Warren-
ton, Va., December 31, 1863 ; promoted to corporal March 25, 1864.

Black, Orlando. — Age thirty-four ; enlisted from Syracuse, February 10,
1864; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Bodfish, Henry. — Age twenty ; enlisted from Fabius, February 4, 1864 ;
mustered in February 5, 1864 ; in hospital from May 5, 1864, to September, 1864 ;
promoted to corporal November 1, 1864.

Bo^art, James. — Age twenty-six ; enlisted from Poughkeepsie. February 26,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; wounded at Hawes's Shop, Va., May 28, 1864 ; dis-
charged at Grant United States General Hospital, New York Harbor, March 21,
1865, for disability.

Bolton, William. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Kingston, January 10,
1865 ; mustered m same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav. Formerly served as private in Twenty-eighth New York
Volunteers from August 14, 1864, to November 13, 18G4 ; enlisted in One Hun-
dred and Fifty-ninth New York Volunteers, and rejected on account of size;
horse shot from under him at Appomattox Court- House, April 9, 1865.

Bornkent, James. — Age twenty ; enlisted from New York city, February 24,
1865 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Bradley, Henry. — Age forty-four; enlisted from Syracuse, February, 8,
1864; mustered in February 10, 18G4; transferred June 24, 18G5, to Company A,
First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Brady, James.—Age eighteen; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 9, 18G5;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865 to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov, Cav.

Brown, Thaddens M.— Age eighteen; enlisted from Fabius, February 27,
1864; mustered in same day ; died May 2, 1864, at Douglas Hospital, Washing-
ton, D. C, of disease.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 291

Browiicll, B. Frank.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from McGrawville, August
31, 18GI ; mustered in September 27, 18G1 ; taken prisoner at Middleburg, Va.,
June 19, 180;J; wounded at Sulphur Springs, Va., October 12, 18G3: mustered out
October 17, 18G4, on Detachment Muster-out Roll, at Elmira.

Bruce, Alfred. — Age twenty-two; enlisted from Victory, September 10,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; mustered out October 6, 1864, on detail
M. 0. Roll near Petersburg, Va.

Bunker, Theodore.— Age twenty-one; enlisted from Kingston, October 3,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N.Y. Prov. Cav.

Bunta, Frederick. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Schenectady, November
14, 1861 ; mustered in November 15, 1861 ; sent to General Hospital, Washing-
ton, D. C, October 27, 186;3 ; discharged December 5, 1862, on surgeon's certifi-
cate of disability at General Hospital, Alexandria, Va.

Call, Charles E. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Fabius, February 4,1864;
mustered in February 5, 1864 ; mustered out May 19, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa.

Carder, Henry, — Age twenty-five; enlisted from Jordan, September 15,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; discharged January 6, 1863, at Camp
Bayard, Va., on surgeon's certificate of disability.

Carrington, Welles H.— Age twenty ; enlisted from Jordan, September 18,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; deserted December 5, 1861, at Elmira.

Case, Joseph.— Age eighteen; enlisted from Sullivan, January 28, 1864;
mustered in i^ame day ; taken prisoner at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864 ;
mustered out at New York city June 29, 1865.

Caton, Nathaniel.— Age twenty-nine; enlisted from Goshen, August 30,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; mustered out June 3, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va.

Clark, Charles.— Age twenty-three; enlisted from Syracuse, August 28,
1861; mustered in September 27, 1861; detailed. as teamster; re-enlisted and
mustered in December 28, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865, to
Comj^my A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Clark, James P.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from McGrawville, September 27,
1861; mustered in same day; detailed in Ambulance Corps November 2, 1862:
re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton, Va; died Febru-
ary 11, IbG-l, at Taylor, N. Y., while on furlough.

Colhnrn, Erastus.— Age twenty-one; enlisted from Buffalo, September 30,
1861 ; mustered in October 1, 1861 ; sent to hospital October 27, 1862 ; returned
to duty December 6, 1862; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863, at
Collins ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Colburn, Lewis, A.— Age twenty-four; enlisted from Colbum Centre, Sep-
tember 17, 1861 ; mustered in September 18, 1861 ; promoted to corporal Decem-
ber 12, 1861.

Conardon, John.- Age twenty-two; enlisted from Syracuse, August 31,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; accidentally killed' at Gettysburg, Pa.,
December 28, 1861.

292 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Conwell, George W. — Reduced from corporal April 15, 1862 ; re-enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 18G3, at Warreuton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865,
to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Coon, Boyington. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Jordan, September 20, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 18G1 ; taken prisoner near Centreville, Va., August 31,
1862 ; paroled and sent to Annapolis : rejoined company December, 1862 ; taken
prisoner at Shepherdstown, Va., July 16. 1863 ; died in rebel prison in Richmond,
Va., November, 1864

Corwin, Gillespie B.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from McGrawrille, August
31, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; missing in action at Brandy Station,
Va., June 9, 1863 ; re-enlistod and mustered in December 31, 1863, at Warrenton,
Va. ; promoted to corporal, March 31, 1864.

Cosselman, >Villiam. — Age thirty-three; enlisted from Sullivan, June 28,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; absent without leave from June 4, 1864, to Decem-
ber 27, 1864 ; no further record.

Craus, Charles. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Elraira, December 7, 1863 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, I860, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Crans, William A. — Age eightijen; enlisted from Addison, November 21,
1863 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N.
Y. Prov. Cav. ; died of disease, July 24, 1865, at Slough General Hospital, Alex-
andria, Va.

Doody, Daniel. — Age twenty; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 11, 1865;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to- Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Decker, George. — Age twenty-eight ; enlisted from Freetown, September 5,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; taken prisoner near Weaversville, Va.,
July 20, 1863 ; exchanged March 13, 1864 ; mustered out September 26, 1864, near
Petersburg, Va.

Deyo, Franklin. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Cincinnatus, September
10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; discharged October 31, 1862, by Gen-
eral Order No. 154 War Department, A. G. 0., October 9, 1863, having enlisted in
Tenth U. S. Infantry.

Biddell, John. — Age twenty-six ; enlisted from Syracuse, February 29, 1864 ;
mustered in same day ; wounded at Hawcs's Shop, Va., May 28, 1864 ; transferred
March 4, 1865, to Company H.

Binning, William T. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Wayne, January 20,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Dodge, Hiram B.— -Reduced from quartermaster sergeant, January 1, 1862;
on detached duty, in Patterson Park Hospital, Baltimore, from May, 1862, to Au-
gust, 1863 ; promoted to veterinary sergeant, November 27, 1862.

Donglas, Melvin E. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Red Creek, September
10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; detailed in hospital, Baltimore, Md.,
May to August, 1862 ; in Pioneer Corps, November, 1862 ; mustered out October
6, 1864, near Petersburg, Va,

LIEUT. NORMAN A. REYNOLDS. Co I.
SERGT. JOHN P. McWETHEY, Co A „^,.,

ROWLAND S. McWETHEY, Co A
MELVIN E. DOUGLASS, Co. A
DAVID WETHER3Y. Co A

SERGT EDWARD W. STARK, Co I

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 293

Dann, Joseph, — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 29, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 18G5, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

DuTall, William. — Age twenty-nine ; enlisted from Jordan,^ August 25, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; detailed in quartermaster department, June,
1863 ; discharged April 29, 1864, at Columbia General Hospital, for disability.

Eastman, James. — Age twenty-three ; enlisted from Jordan, August 23, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to sergeant, December 12, 1861.

E^an, John, — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Poughkeepsie, September 10,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; promoted to corporal, April 30, 1865.

Everts, Henry P. — Age twenty-four ; enlistedfromRathbone, July 30, 1864;
-mustered in September 3, 1864; wounded at Appomattox Court-House, Va., April
9, 1865 ; discharged June 5, 1865, on surgeon's certificate of disability, at Balti-
more, Md.

Fabry, Frederick. — Age nineteen ; enlisted from Schenectady, November
14, 1861 ; mustered in November 15, 1861 ; sent to General Hospital, Washington,
D. C, November 18, 1862 ; mustered out November 21, 1864, before Petersburg, Ya.

Fardo, Henry,— Age twenty-four ; enlisted from Norwich, January 13, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Fish, James E, — Age nineteen ; enlisted from Cincinnatus, September 16,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; in hospital at Elmira, December 12, 1861,
to July, 1862 ; discharged July 23, 1862, at Baltimore, Md., on surgeon's certificate
of disability.

Ford, John, — Age twenty-one; enlisted from McGrawville, September 27,
1861; mustered in same day; taken prisoner near Centreville, Ya., August 31,
1862; exchanged and rejoined company, December 19, 1862; died xVugust 10,
1863, in Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C, of wounds received in action at
Middleburg, Va., June 19, 1863.

Ford, Reuben. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from German, December 1, 1861 ;
mustered in December 12, 1861 ; on detached duty as orderly to General Gregg
from July 11, 1864, until discharged December 14, 1864, before Petersburg, Ya.

Forrester, Edgar.— Age twenty ; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 16, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; promoted to corporal, June 10, 1865.

Fraley, Edward. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Brookh-n, January 11, 1865;
mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Franklin, Henry.— Age forty-one; enlisted from Addison, December 1, 1803 :
mustered in December 2, 1803 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav. Formerly served in Company E, Thirty-fourth N. Y. Vols.

Freeman, Henry. — Age thirty ; enlisted from Syracuse, September 5, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 18(51 ; sent to hospital, October 27, 1802 ; returned to
duty from hospital at Washington, D. C, Deeomber 5, 1802; re-enlisted and
mustered in at Warrenton, Ya., December 28, 1803 ; promoted to corporal, July
1, 1864.

294 HISTORY OF THE TENTH EEGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Oaston, Anthony. — Age twenty-six; enlisted from Tanytown, January 12,
1805 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Car. •

Gea^an, Michael. — Ago thirty-three; enlisted from Syracuse, February 25,
18C4 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 18C5, to Company A, First
X. Y. Prov. Cav.

Gordon, John. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Buffalo, December 17,1864;
mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav,

Griswold, Silas L. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Virgil, February 10,
1864; mustered in February 11, 1864; promoted to corporal, March 27, 1865.

Giierri, Jules.— Age twenty-five ; enlisted from Tarrytown, January 12, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Gunn, BurrlU.— -Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, September 25, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; detailed as teamster June, 1862 ; re-enlisted and
mustered in December 31, 1863, at Elbridge ; transferred January 19, 1865, to
Company B, Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps.

Hadlon, Walter. — Age thirty-two ; enlisted from Sullivan, February 4, 1864 ;
mustered in same day , died October 20, 1864, at Willett's Point N. Y., of injury
and disease.

Haight, James A.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from Norwich, Januaiy 13, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Ilaight, Frederick W. — Age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Syracuse,- Febru-
ary 8, 1864 ; mustered in February 9, 1864 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Com-
pany A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hall, Morgan. — Age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Syracuse, August 31, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1801 ; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1863,
at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov.
Cav. ; discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, September 12, 1865, at
Harewood U. S. General Hospital, Washington, D. C.

Hall, Alonzo.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from Elraira, December 1, 1861 ;
mustered in December 16, 1861 ; detailed as teamster June, 1862 ; re-enlisted and
mustered in at Elmira, December 31, 1863 ; transferred June 24,1805, to Company
A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hammond, Duane. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Freetown, September 5,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; taken prisoner near Centreville, Va., Au-
gust 31, 1802; exchanged and rejoined company, December 16, 1802; re-enlistod
and mustered in December 31. 1803, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1805,
to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hammond, James S. — Age nineteen ; enlisted from Freetown, September 5,
ISOl ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; sent to hospital, Washington, October 27,
1802 ; re-enlisted and mustered in March 10, 1804, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred
June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 295

Hammond, Samuel. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Cortland, February 17,
1864 ; mustered in March 21, 1864 ; promoted to corporal January 1, 1865.

Harris, IVilliam H. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Southport, February 16,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; killed at Ground Squirrel Bridge, Va., May 11, 1864.

Harsli, Jacob. — Ago twenty-three ; enlisted from Syracuse, August 24, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; taken prisoner near Centreville, Va., August 31,
1862 ; paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md. ; killed in action at Sulphur Springs,
Va., October 12, 1863.

Hayes, Albert W. — Age nineteen ; enlisted from McGrawville, August 31,
1861; mustered in September 27, 1861; taken prisoner at Middleburg, Va., June
19, 1863 ; paroled July 24, 1863 ; exchanged November 1, 1863 ; in hospital at
Annapolis and David's Island, N. Y. Harbor, from September, 1863, to February,
1864 ; promoted to corporal, November 1, 1863.

Hicks, Luther F. P. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from McGrawville, August
31, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; taken prisoner near Centreville, Va.,
August 31j 1862; paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md. ; re-enlisted and mustered
in March 10, 1864, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A,
First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Hiiies, George. — Age twenty-three ; enlisted from Chittenango, September
10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; re-enlisted and mustered in December
81, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Jacobus, Samuel.— Age eighteen; enlisted from Urbana, February 12, 1864;
mustered in same day ; wounded in action at St. Mary's Church, Va.; June 24,
1864 ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y Prov. Cav.

Johnson, Daniel. — Age thirty-seven; enlisted from Cortland, January 4,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N Y. Prov. Cav.

King, John T.— Age twenty-two; enlisted from Collins Centre, September
16, 1861 ; mustered in September 18, 1861 ; gunshot-wound in left hip at Middle-
burg, Va., Juno 10, 1863; taken prisoner same time and place; escaped June 21,
1863 ; in hospital at Washington, D. C, from June 23 to June 28, 1863 ; mustered
out September 26, 1864, near Petersburg, Va.

King^ Uansoiu (J.— Age twenty ; enlisted from Collins Centre, September 16,
1861 ; mustered in September 18, 1861 ; in hospital at Elmira, from August 9 to
August 22, 1862, with intermittent fever ; in hospital at City Point, Va., from
August 25 to September 10, 1864 ; mustered out September 26, 1864, near Peters-
burg, Va.

King, William.— Age nineteen; enlisted from Sullivan, January 28, 1864;
mustered in sium day; discharged April 29, 1864, at Elmira, on surgeon's cer-
tificate of disability.

Kinney, William B.— Ago eighteen; enlisted from Syracuse, August 14,
1861 ; nuistert'd in Sopteml^cr 27, 1861 ; detailed for hospital duty from February
to May, 1862 ; detailed for duty with General Abercrombie at Chain Bridge,
October 25, 1862 ; killed in action at Brandy Station, Va., June 9, 1863.

296 HISTORY OP THE TEXTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Knight, Charles A. — Ago twenty-one; enlisted from Cortland, September
6, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 18G1 ; mustered out September 2G, 1SG4, near
Petersburg, Va., by reason of expiration of term of service.

Kline, Christian. — Age twenty; enlisted from Schenectady, November 14,
1861 ; mustered in November 15, 1801 ; wounded in action at Boydton Plank
RoadjVa., October 27, 18G4 ; discharged December 19, 1804, on surgeon's certificate
of disability, at Carver General Hospital, Washington, D. C.

Krieger, Frederick. — Age forty; enlisted from Syracuse, November 25,
1861 ; mustered in December 12, 1801 ; transferred October 28, 1803, to Company
F, First Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps.

Lagot, Darnien. — Age not given; enlisted from Buffalo, April 18, 1864;
mustered in same day ; wounded at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1804; trans-
ferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Pro v. Cav.

Lanninger, Gustaye. — Age twenty-two ; enlisted from Syracuse, September
27, 1861 ; mustered in same day; wounded in action at Middleburg, Va., June 19,
1863 ; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 1803, at Warrenton, Va. ; missing
in action at St. Mary's Church, Va., June 24, 1804 ; transferred June 24, 1805, to
Company A, First N. Y. Pro v. Cav.

Leslie, Carroll.— Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, August 31, 1861 :
mustered in September 27, 1801 ; in hospital at Gettysburg, Pa., from December
28, 1861, to March, 1802 ; in hospital at Washington, D. C, from October 27, 1802,
to December 5, 1802 ; discharged January 1, 1803, on surgeon's certificate of dis-
ability, at Camp Bayard, Va.

Lewis, John W. — Age twenty ; enlisted from Richmond, Pa., February 29,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; injured by being thrown from horse at Cold Har-
bor, Va., June 2, 1864; in hospital at Appomattox, Va., from June, 1805, to Octo-
ber, 1865; mustered out June 21, 1805, at Elmira, N. Y.

Lobstien, Henry. — Age twenty-eight ; enlisted from New York city, Janu-
ary 13, 1805 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A,
First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Matthews, Milford E. — Age twenty; enlisted from Carthage, February 29,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; killed in action, April G, 1805, at Sailor's Creek, Va.

Manchester, Geoi*ge W. — Age thirty-five; enlisted from Syracuse, February
8, 1804 ; mustered in February 9, 1804 ; mustered out May 10, 1805, at Washing-
ton, D. C, on Detachment Muster-out Roll.

Mayyou, Alonzo. — Age thirty-three; enlisted from S>Tacuse, September 25,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 18G1 ; re-enlisted December 28, 1803 ; mustered
in December 31, 1803 ; promoted to corporal November 1, 1804.

McCloy, Richard. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 9, 1805;
mustered in same day; wounded in action at Sailor's Creek, Va., April 0, 1805:
transferred June 24, 1801, to Company A, First N Y. Prov. Cav. ; discharged from
that organization October 21, 1805, on surgeon's certificate of disability, at De
Camp General Hospital, David's Island, New York Harbor.

McCormlck, Thomas. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 10,
1865; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

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Co. A.

REGIMENTAL ROSTER—COMPANY A. 297

McKaj, James. — Age thirty; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 11, 1805;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

McKenzie, Georare D. — Age twenty-five; enlisted from Syracuse, August 00,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; re-enlisted and mustered in December
28, 1803, at Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

McWethey, Jolm P. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Red Creek, N. Y.,
September 10, 1801 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; promoted to corporal
AprillS, 1862.

Miller, Van Ness. — Age twenty; enlisted from Buffalo, September 3, 1801;
mustered in September 9, 1861 ; taken prisoner August 31, 1862, near Centre-
Tille, Va. ; exchanged and rejoined company, December 16, 1862 ; transferred
Jime 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Moffitt, Joseph, — Age twenty-seven ; enlisted from Spencer, September 30,
1861 ; mustered in November 7, 1861 ; promoted to corporal November 8, 1801.

Monroe, Villarey. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Hornellsville, January 21,
1864; mustered in same day; killed in action at Ilawes's Shop, Va., May 28, 1804.

Morgan, William A. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Tully, August 23, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to farrier August, 1862.

Myers, John. — Age thirty-six; enlisted from Syracuse, September 25, 1801 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; mustered out September 26, 1864, near Peters-
burg, Va., by reason of expiration of term of service.

Northway, Harlow.— Age thirty-three; enlisted from Erwin, August 20,
1864; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 186.5, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Page, Edwin 31.— Age twenty-two; enlisted from Collins Centre, September
17, 1861 ; mustered in September 18, 1801 ; sent to General Hospital at Washing-
ton, D. C, November 2, 1802 ; discharged September 20, 1804, on surgeon's cer-
tificate of disability, at Augur General Hospital, Washington, D. C.

Perry, Walter R.— Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, August 23, 1801 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to sergeant January 1, 1802.

Phillips, John.— Age thirty-five; enlisted from Syracuse, September 25,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; transferred October 1, 1803, to Second
Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps.

Pierce, James.— Age twenty-four ; enlisted from McGrawville, September 5,
1861; mustered in So[)teraber 27, 1861; taken prisoner August 31, 1802; ex-
changed and rejoined Regiment, December 16, 1862 ; re-enlisted and mustered in
December 28, 1863, at Warrenton, Va. ; promoted to corporal March 20, 1804.

Pitts, John.— Age twenty-eight ; enlisted from Mexico, N. Y., March 8, 1805 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Rausford, Alfred P. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Cincinnatus, Febru-
ary 12, 1804 ; mustered in February 16, 1804 ; mustered out June 6, 1805, at Bal-
timore, Md., on Individual Muster-out Roll.

298 HISTORY OF THE TENTH PvEGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Kealls, Addison. — Age twcnty-Cour ; enlisted from Jam osville, August 14,
1861; mustered ia September 27, 1^0 1 : svoundcd in action at Lee's Mills, Va.,
July 30, 18G4; transferred June 24, 18r>.!', to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Kejnolds, Norman A. — Age twen;\'-one; enlisted from Red Creek, Septem-
ber 10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 18(51 ; promoted to corporal April 15,
1862.

Bice, Horatio H. — Age eighteen ; enlioted frpm Cayuga, September 20, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1801 ; promoted to corporal De(!em]jer 1, 1863.

Roberts, William H. — Jige cigbter!) ; unlisted from Elmira, December 10,
1861; mustered in December 12, 18Gj ; cletaiied as teamster from December, 18G2,
to January, 1863 ; re-enlisted and mnsuued in December ol, 1803, at Pompey ;
transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, Fir^t N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Rockwell, Morris P. — Age t^venty-tlnee; enlisted from Cincinnatus, Sep-
tember 21, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1801 ; mu.-tered out September 26,
1864, near Petersburg, Va., by reason oi exjiiraiion of term ol service.

Rogers, George W. — Age eighteen. ; eiili'.ted from Indepi^iidence, January 4,
1864; mustered in January 5, 1804. Ii\j;;red at Cold Ilarljor, Va., June 2, 1804,
by attempting to force his horse to jr.inp a ditch; sulfcrcd from sunstroke at
Sumner's Upper Bridge, same day, a<v\ s.viit to hospital at White House, Va.,
June 5, 1864, thence to David's IsliDd, New York Harbor, Juno 15, 1864; rejoin-
ing the Regiment in November, 18G4, reniMining and serving with it until it was
mustered out ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav,
Formerly served in Fifty-third Pennsylvmia Volunteers from October 27, 1861,
to March 10, 1862, when he was di>ehHrg( d at Camp California, Va., for physical
disability resulting from typhoid fev.r. Jui listed July 1, 1803, in Company K,
Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania militia, for iiinely days ; discharged August 16, 1863,
at Harrisburg, Pa.

Rogers, Jacob W. — Age twenty-ei •;''![ ; enlisted from North Collins, Septem-
ber 14, 1861 ; mustered in September -M. 18'' 1 ; detailed in Pioneer Corps Novem-
ber, 1862; mustered out October 14, 1^01, a^. ]{oehester, N. Y.

Root, John H. — Age. twenty-liuc',' ; '•;'. listed from JhiiTalo, September 16,
1861; mustered in September 18, ISOl ; ro-enlistcd and mustered in December
31. 1863 at Irving, N. Y. ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Comj)any A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Sanders, Jolm IV. — Age thirty-seven ; eiilisted from Rathburn, November
27, 1863; mustered in same day ; transferred Jane 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Sanders, Robert If. — Age twenty-tv'.o: enlisted from ^lillport, December 3,
1861; mustered in December 12, 1*^01 ; .11.^1 in hands of the enemy, from wounds
received in action at Trevillian Station .Unio 11, 1864. Recorded in tables of this
volume as killed in action.

Sclienek, John.— Age t\venty-f')i;r; fnHstod from Elmira, September 16,
1861 ; mustered in same day ; killed iu nei;<m m Trevillian Station, Va., June 11,
1864.

Senter, Lyman. — Age thirty-o!ie ; enlisted from Jordan, September 20, 1861 ;
mustered in September 27, 1801 ; woaiuled June 14, 1803, at l^owling Green, Va,,

REGIMENTAL ROSTER.—COMPANY A. 299

sent to Campbell Hospital ; re-enlisted and mustered in December 31, 18G3, at
Warrenton, Va. ; transferred June 24, 18G5, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Sliaw, Hu^h. — Age thirty-six; enlisted from New York city, January 14,
18G5 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1805, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Sherman, John G. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from North Collins, Septem-
ber 30, 18G1 ; mustered in October 1, 1861 ; left the Regiment at Elinira, De-
cember 1, 1861.

Simmons, James. — Age thirty-four ; enlisted from Poughkeepsie, January
11, 18G5 ; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Slater, T\'illiam II. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Hornby, August 17, 1864;
mustered in same day ; wounded in left hip and right hand at Dinwiddie Court-
Ilouse, Va., March 31, 1805; wounded April 8, 1865, near Farmville, Va.; mus-
tered out June 3, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va.

Smith, George. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 10, 1865 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Smith, James E. — Age thirty-two ; enlisted from Syracuse, August 28, 1861 ;
never mustered.

Stark, Edward TT. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Red Creek, September
10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; wounded in right arm at Leesburg,
Va., September 17, 1862 ; promoted to corporal August 31, 1863.

Thomas, John. — Age twenty-three; enlisted from Syracuse, February 9.
1864 ; mustered in same day ; mustered out June 2, 1865, at Elmira on Individual
Muster-out Roll.

Thompson, Harlan P.— Age twenty; enlisted from Elmira, September 16,
1861 ; mustered in November 7, 1861 ; promoted to copimissary sergeant October
6, 1862.

Tuohey, Michael.— Age twenty-three; enlisted from Poughkeepsie, Septem-
ber 10, 18G4 ; mustered in same day ; mustered out June 21, 1865, at Philadel-
phia, Pa., on Individual Muster-out Roll.

Tuohey, Patrick.— Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Poughkeepsie, Septem-
ber 10, 1864 ; mustered in same day ; wounded on picket November 30, 1864 ;
mustered out June 3, 1865, at Cloud's Mills, Va., on Detachment Muster-out
Roll.

Turner, Eli.— Age twenty ; enlisted from Syracuse, September 27, 1861 ;
mustered in same day ; promoted to bugler December 12, 1861.

Waggoner, Andrew.— Age thirty-eight; enlisted from Syracuse, August 31,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; discharged September 18, 1863, on sur-
geon's certidcate of disability, at Lovell Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R. I.

Wallace, Alexander H.— Age twenty-three; enlisted from Cortland, Sep-
tember 10, 1861 ; mustered in September 27,1861; mustered out September 26,
1864, near Petersburg, Va., by reason of expiration of term of service.

300 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

Ward, James. — Age thirty ; enlisted from New York city, January 14, 18G5 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Warner, Charles L.— Age eighteen ; enlisted from Fabius, February 4, 18G4 ;
mustered in February 5, 18G4; promoted to corporal April 2, 1865.

Warren, William.—Age twenty; enlisted from Schenectady, December 18,
1863 ; mustered in December 22, 1863 ; mustered out May 30, 1865, at Philadel-
phia, Pa., on Individual Muster-out RolL

Watson, George.— Age thirty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, August 31, 1S61 ;
mustered in September 27, 1861 ; promoted to corporal December 12, 1861.

Watson, Robert. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Brooklyn, June 10, 1864;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Welch, Walter.— Age forty-four; enlisted from Syracuse, February 12,
1864 ; mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Wetherby, David. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Red Creek, September 10,
1861 ; mustered in September 27, 1861 ; wounded in action at Ilawes's Shop, Va.,
May 28, 1864 ; mustered out September 26, 1864, near Petersburg, Ya., by reason
of expiration of term of service.

White, John P. — Age twenty-two; enlisted from McGrawville, August 31,
1861; mustered in September 27, 1861; promoted to corporal December 12,
1861.

Wilbur, William. — Age twenty-one ; enlisted from Jordan, September 28,
1861 : mustered in November 7, 1861 ; wounded in action at Leesburg, Va., Sep-
tember, 17, 1862, and sent to hospital at AVashington, D. C. ; discharged May 29,
1863, on surgeon's certificate of disability, at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor.

Wildman, John. — Age eighteen ; enlisted from Brooklyn, January 12, 1805 ;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Wilkinson, Charles. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Victory, September
3, 1864 ; mustered in September 5, 1864 ; drowned January 6, 1865, at City Point,
Va.

Williams, John. — Age twenty-two ; enlisted from Tarrytown, January 13,
1865; mustered in same day; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Williams, Thomas. — Age nineteen; enlisted from Albany, January 16, 18G5;
mustered in same day ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

Wilson, John. — Age twenty-one; enlisted from Poughkeepsie, January 11,
1865 ; mustered in same dvay ; transferred June 24, 1865, to Company A, Fii-st
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Wing, John. — Age thirty; enlisted from Albany, January 13, 1864; mns-
tei^ in same day; transferred Juno 24, 1865, to Company A, First N. Y. Prov.
Cav.

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REGIMENTAL ROSTER.— COMPANY A. 301

"Woodward, George.— Age forty-four; enlisted from Syracuse, September
20, 18G1 ; mustered in September 27, 18G1 ; discharged April 21, 18G2, on sur-
geon's certificate of disability, at Havre de Grace, Md.

Wrlglit, George H. — Age eighteen; enlisted from Syracuse, Febniary 18,
18G4 ; mustered in same day ; mustered out May 31, 1865, at Elmira, on Individual
Muster-out Roll.

Recapitulation. — Company A.

There were five captains in Company A, one of whom was mustered in with
the company, one promoted from first lieutenant of the company, one from civil
life, one from regimental commissary, and one from second lieutenant of the
company. Of these, one was killed in action, one discharged for disability, one
discharged, no cause given, one promoted to major, and one transferred as captain
to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Of the five first lieutenants, one was mustered in with the company, one was
appointed from civil life, one was promoted from second lieutenant of the com-
pany, one from sergeant Company B, and one from second lieutenant Company
E. One of these was discharged for disability, one was promoted to captain of
the company, one to captain Company C, one to captain Company E, and one
transferred in the same grade to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Four second lieutenants were mustered into the company, of whom one was an
original, one was promoted from quartermaster sergeant Company C, one from
hospital steward, and one from sergeant of the company. Of the four one was
promoted to captain and one to fi.rst lieutenant of the Company, one to captain
Company B, and one transferred in the same grade to .Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

There were twenty-three sergeants in the company, one first, one quarter-
master, and four duty sergeants being originals, fourteen were promoted from
corporals, and three from the ranks. Of these, one died in a rebel prison, one
was discharged for disability (wounds), three were mustered out as supernumerary
non-commissioned officers^ one mustered out, no* cause given, one deserted, one
promoted to second lieutenant of the company, five promoted to commissioned
officers in other companies, four to the non-commissioned staff, two to commis-
sioned officers in other organizations, one was reduced to the ranks, and three
were transferred in the same grade to Company A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Of the twenty-eight corporals borne on the company rolls seven were mustered
in as such with the company and twenty-one were raised from the ranks. Of
these one died of disease, two were discharged for disability, three mustered out
as supernumeraries, two mustered out, no cause given, one reduced to the ranks,
fourteen promoted to sergeants, and five transferred in the same grade to Com-
pany A, First N. Y. Prov. Cav.

There were three buglers, two of whom were originals and one promoted from
the ranks. One of these was promoted to chief bugler,one mustered out on expi-
ration of term of service, and one transferred as bugler to Company A, First N. Y.
Prov. Cav.

One saddler and one wagoner, both originals, were transferred to the First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

Of the three farriers, two of whom were originals and one raised from the

302 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

ranks, one was accidentally killed, one was mustered out as supernumerary, and
one transferred to the First N. Y. Prov. pa v.

The names of one hundred and fifty-five privates appear on the company
rolls. Of these seven were killed in action, one died from wounds received in
action, two died in rebel prisons, four died of disease, one was accidentally killed,
one was drowned, three promoted to sergeants, twenty-one to corporals, one to
bugler, one to farrier, seventeen discharged for disability, five mustered out on
expiration of term of service, twenty mustered out (no cause given), three deserted,
three transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, one to the regular army, one to the
non-commissioned staff, one to Company H, and sixty-two to Company A, First
N. Y. Prov. Cav.

There were twenty original non-commissioned oflBcers in the company, of
whom two were rednced to the ranks. Adding the eighteen to the one hundred
and fifty-five privates gives a total of one hundred and seventy-three enlisted
men for the company.

In addition to the three original commissioned officers of the company there
were four who had never served in the company, which, added to the enlisted
men, gives a total of one hundred and eighty of all grades*

Company A's Honoeed Dead.

Captains,

John Ordner.— Killed in action, at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864.

Sergeants,
"Rowland S. McWe they.— Died in Salisbury (N. C.) Prison, November 16, 18G4.

Corporals,

George Watson. — Died while on furlough, at Prospect, N. Y., February 10.
1865.

Farrier,

George Marlin.—Accidentally killed at Back River, Md., July 30, 18G3.

Privates,
Thompson B. Beckhorn. — Died in Andersonville Prison, November, 18G4.
Thaddens M. Brown.— -Died of disease, at Washington, D. C, May 3, 1SG4.
James P. Clark.— Died at Taylor, N. Y., of disease, while on furlough, Feb-
ruary 11, 1864.

John Congdon.— Accidentally killed at Gettysburg, Pa., December 28, 18G1.
The first Union soldier buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa.

Boyington Coon.— Died in prison, at Richmond, Va., November, 1864.

>yilliam A. Crans. — Died at Alexandria, Va., July 24, 18G5, of disease,

John Ford.— Died August 10, 1863, at Washington, D. C, of wounds received
in action June 19, 1863.

Walter Hadlon.— Died at Willett's Point, N. Y., October 20, 1864, of injury
and discsise.

776H

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Full text of "History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865"

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